EBS Question

[Lost Knight]

I always wondered if K.I.T.T.'s air brakes in SPM mode should actually fly open in the direction they do. I would imagine that they would flap open backwards to create a parachute effect in order to help stop the car? On some hotrod and dragster races, a parachute flies out from the back, yet the air brakes on K.I.T.T. face the opposite direction of those parachutes, so I wonder how they're supposed to work?

[Matthew]

I always wondered if K.I.T.T.'s air brakes in SPM mode should actually fly open in the direction they do. I would imagine that they would flap open backwards to create a parachute effect in order to help stop the car? On some hotrod and dragster races, a parachute flies out from the back, yet the air brakes on K.I.T.T. face the opposite direction of those parachutes, so I wonder how they're supposed to work?

I believe that the principle applied is supposed to be that of a parachute, as the flaps are clearly there to provide a massive amount of drag, so as to counteract the aerodynamics of SPM. The primary problem of course is that the flaps are painted red so as to indicate that it is a braking breaking system to drivers who are behind it and see it in use. Also, I’d think that if they were inverted, there is the possibility that if Kitt was going faster than conceived, that the parts could wind up being sheered off, as there is no clear indication that those parts are protected by the MBS.

From Matthew

[Michael Pajaro]

I liked Matthew's explanation, the only think I'll add is that the EBS fins were not the primary stopping force; KITT's wheels still locked up like normal brakes work (well, before anti-lock systems). The fins provided additional drag.

[Skav]

heh, it was pointless painting the fins red since there were never any cars behind or surrounding kitt at all whenever he was in SPM.

[TurbomanKnight]

I liked Matthew's explanation, the only think I'll add is that the EBS fins were not the primary stopping force; KITT's wheels still locked up like normal brakes work (well, before anti-lock systems). The fins provided additional drag.

Yeah, I never got the EBS. They should of opened the other way around to produce drag not decrease it. And speaking of Anti Lock Brakes. Do you guys really know what they are. Most people think it helps to stop the car. But they really prevent the brakes from locking up. Just to let you guys know.

[cloudkitt]

Right, Anti-Lock brakes prevent the brakes from locking so that you can brake and steer away from whatever it is in front of you at the same time. Try steering while locking conventional brakes

[TurbomanKnight]

Try steering while locking conventional brakes

Not a great thing to do.

[cloudkitt]

Yes, correction: try steering while locking up conventional brakes in a WIDE OPEN SPACE.

[TurbomanKnight]

Yeah, one time i was driving a Suzuki Samurai. It didnt have power steering so i was on the brake and trying to turn at the same time. It was funny as hell. BEcuase i had stopped so i was rying to turn the whell full to the left with the brakes applied.

[Michael Pajaro]

Fins on airplanes work the same way. When some jets hit the runway, the wing flaps pop up in the same direction KITT's did. And the primary function of anti-lock brakes is still to stop the car, they just do it in a safer manner than traditional brakes. Which unfortunately makes it harder for stuntmen to do some of those cool 180s- there are times when you WANT the car to go into a skid!

[Lost Knight]

Oh good point about the airplane fins, very true!

[TurbomanKnight]

Stunt drivers use the handbrake. Right?

[HondaSiR]

Stunt drivers use the handbrake. Right?

In Knight Rider, the stuntman used the brake pedal (seldomly the hand brake) because he needs both his hands on the steering wheel. There is a "pedal switch" on the floor that he can activate in order to "disengage" the front or rear brakes. When this pedal switch is activated, when the brake pedal is pressed, only the rear wheels (or the front wheels) are braking. No need to use the hand brake. Pretty convenient for the stunt driver and much more safer. He can always reset the switch later for normal driving.

[TurbomanKnight]

Stunt drivers use the handbrake. Right?

In Knight Rider, the stuntman used the brake pedal (seldomly the hand brake) because he needs both his hands on the steering wheel. There is a "pedal switch" on the floor that he can activate in order to "disengage" the front or rear brakes. When this pedal switch is activated, when the brake pedal is pressed, only the rear wheels (or the front wheels) are braking. No need to use the hand brake. Pretty convenient for the stunt driver and much more safer. He can always reset the switch later for normal driving.

I know that, I was talking about stunt drivers in general.

[HondaSiR]

Stunt drivers from the other series probably used the same technique. It's not patented by anybody so the use of the pedal switch is fairly common in the stunt car world.

[hot_knight]

As far as the EBS I think another example would be Nascar. Ever see those guys spin backwards and all of a sudden like four flaps pop out to create drag. But in this case they are opening the opposite of EBS. And since EBS is "Emergency" did kitt ever use them in a NON-SPM situation?

[TurbomanKnight]

I'm afraid not.

[reverber]

going back to abs brakes they do help stop the car quicker because they sense the point where the brakes lock up and release then the pressure is reapplied until you stop. the theory is that a wheel that is sliding along the ground has less friction due to the fact its sliding which means there it will take a greater distance to stop cos there is less stopping force applied due to the loss of friction with abs you are applying the same force but are releasing the force just before the wheels lock and start to skid then the force is reapplied untilyou stop pressing the footbrake or stop because the whel keeps turning it is maintaing a higher amount of friction then a sliding tyre would so less braking distance. its all to do with coefficients of friction but it does help the car stop quicker and safer.

[HondaSiR]

ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) is a good invention (by Mercedes Benz I think, correct me if I'm wrong). It's a good thing they didn't patent it, they were very generous in sharing this technology with other car makers. Unfortunately ABS was not around during the time of Knight Rider. But as of now, nearly all automakers have this option in their model lineup. A very good option to have I must say.