Quote:
Originally posted by VaSteve
Add the threshhold braking and the engine braking and you should stop in shorter distance than the middle pedal alone.
ABS actually increases your stopping distance. The grab-release-grab-release ABS effect increases the braking distance during the release. True threshold braking is before the ABS comes on.
Panic stops and track driving are two different things however.
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Unfortunately Steve, There is an error in your thinking.
The brakes in any vehicle should be more than powerful enough to lock each wheel (on their own). If you are panic braking (the question that was originally asked), you should be either in ABS (shortest distance to stop) or without the clear and undeniable advantage of ABS, modulating the brakes to near locked wheel state. If you were to ADD MORE LOCKING CAPABILITY TO AN ALREADY ALMOST LOCKED WHEEL (by downshifting), You would in fact, lock the wheel, DECREASING it's coefficient of friction to the pavement (meaning LESS STOPPING/LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE).
The only way to prevent the locked wheel from downshifting (and the classic 911 end-swap) would be to release enough brake (in all 4 wheels) to get the one (or two in a locking diff) driven wheels to rotate again (or... HEY! Push the clutch in.... ). All of this happening while panic stopping, steering, downshifting, and uttering the two most famous words in the driver's language.
No one is going to be able to do that in a panic stop. No one.
Fact is, panic stop, both pedals (clutch and brake) to the floor (with ABS) or without ABS work the brake to get almost locked wheel braking. Steer to avoid the collision. Average driver will have his hands full doing only just that.
I have seen this discussion mix the question up several times. The question was Panic stop. Both pedals to the floor.