trashbat wrote:Out of curiosity, does anyone know if the various stability systems (VSC, EBD etc) can apply the brakes to the wheels without any throttle or braking input present? i.e. on the overrun
Yes, and they actually work best when the driver does not intervene with the pedals, mild understeer being the exception.
Ancient wrote:use actual engine braking in preference to brake pads (i.e. select a 'flexible' gear which will hold my speed) on steep downhills (particularly long ones). Should I trail the brakes instead (contrary to the car handbook
)?
Actually, effective retardation on a downhil gradient fulfils the adage "brakes to slow". I usually slow down with the brakes before the downhill section to the desired speed. Once said speed is achieved, I downshift to the appropriate gear.
Unless the gradient is particularly steep, the appropriate gear usually allows me to drive down the gradient at a constant speed
on the throttle. So it is still "brakes to slow, gears to go".
Ancient wrote:'Brakes to slow' is just too prescriptive (and proscriptive too
) for my liking.
And it is. Like I said earlier, heavy vehicles (heavier than seven tonns) will often require deceleration via sequental downshifting and additional retarders, in addition to foundation brakes.