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[Vamps]

There have been times in this poor weather that I have felt that the ABS kicking in has been more or a hindrance than a help, would be interested in others thoughts....

[feeutfo]

Ime of sailing through red traffic lights with abs banging away and not stopping at all, it's a case of over pressing the pedal I think V ? Getting the pressure on the dedal right in snow is a bit of a mare as there's no feel when the brakes start to bite so the tendency is to push the pedal further. Plenty of brake testing before the brakes are needed maybe?

Or am I teaching egg sucking? But yes once the abs is on in snow or ice, forget it. 

[Vamps]

Ime of sailing through red traffic lights with abs banging away and not stopping at all, it's a case of over pressing the pedal I think V ? Getting the pressure on the dedal right in snow is a bit of a mare as there's no feel when the brakes start to bite so the tendency is to push the pedal further. Plenty of brake testing before the brakes are needed maybe?

Or am I teaching egg sucking? But yes once the abs is on in snow or ice, forget it. 

[/highlight]

Not at all I have found myself simply not stopping, regardless of how heavy on the pedal......I tend to drive constantly on the brake pedal to judge the road but have felt that ABS has lessened braking efficiency a few times, usually at lights or a junction...

[feeutfo]

Lowered the tyre pressures? :-/

[Andy B]

When you're braking in fresh snow they reckon that you can stop better by locking up and the snow that builds up in front of the wheels will slow/stop the car quicker, when electronic ABS was still relatively new you could turn it off on Audis (?), AFAIK nobody gives you that option anymore. Overall though you're going to stop sooner with ABS than without it. When we had the last lot of snow, the Astra I was using didnt have ABS and although I think you drive differently because you know that it's now back up to you & you can't let the electrickery take over I always managed to stop, cadence braking if need be.
I found myself doing almost the same as Chris the other week. Even though it was -4^o at 0630 it rained for as few minuntes as I was driving to work  The roads turned to an instant ice rink. I braked to turn right but just carried on in a straight line with the ABS kicking away getting no where!!  :-? It's a good job it was as early as it was & there were very few cars on the road, particularly in front of me. 

[eddie]

Try NOT using your brakes! Drive at a speed slow enough and with enough prediction to make them not needed. Ive been doing the 3 mile journey too and from work for the last 2 weeks without touching the brakes except to hold me at the traffic lights.

eddie

[Andy B]

Try NOT using your brakes! Drive at a speed slow enough and with enough prediction to make them not needed. Ive been doing the 3 mile journey too and from work for the last 2 weeks without touching the brakes except to hold me at the traffic lights.

eddie

I bet the bloke driving behind you is pleased! 

[Psychoca]

When you're braking in fresh snow they reckon that you can stop better by locking up and the snow that builds up in front of the wheels will slow/stop the car quicker, when electronic ABS was still relatively new you could turn it off on Audis (?), AFAIK nobody gives you that option anymore. Overall though you're going to stop sooner with ABS than without it. When we had the last lot of snow, the Astra I was using didnt have ABS and although I think you drive differently because you know that it's now back up to you & you can't let the electrickery take over I always managed to stop, cadence braking if need be.
I found myself doing almost the same as Chris the other week. Even though it was -4^o at 0630 it rained for as few minuntes as I was driving to work  The roads turned to an instant ice rink. I braked to turn right but just carried on in a straight line with the ABS kicking away getting no where!!  :-? It's a good job it was as early as it was & there were very few cars on the road, particularly in front of me. 

Iirc, the some of the early ABS systems functioned dangerously bad in the snow, in some cases completely failing, which I beleive is why some manufacturers fitted the off switch.. 

[Shackeng]

Personally I'd rather have than not, remembering trying to rapidly pump the brake pedal when under no control on ice. Having operated A/C with and without these http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxaret, I know which I prefer. A different case I accept, but on balance still better IMHO.

[Andy B]

Personally I'd rather have than not, remembering trying to rapidly pump the brake pedal when under no control on ice. Having operated A/C with and without these http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxaret, I know which I prefer. A different case I accept, but on balance still better IMHO.

I completely agree!  The very few times when you might be better off without it are outweighed by the times when ABS wil get you out of the brown sticky stuff. 

[jonnycool]

If ABS won't stop you, then there probably isn't enough grip to stop any other way either, IMO

[the alarming man]

to be honest don't know if A.B.S works on the omega as i have never used it..guess it does work as car as just passed it M.O.T 

[Andy B]

to be honest don't know if A.B.S works on the omega as i have never used it..guess it does work as car as just passed it M.O.T 

You mean the light goes off when it's supposed to do  . Your MOT doesn't check that it does work though. 
Have you never made it operate? Years ago when my brother first got a car with ABS I suggested he find himself a wet cobbled bit of road (yes! we do still have a few up in the bleak north  ) and stand on the brakes so he knew what to expect. He didn't, so when he had to stand on the brakes in anger, and the ABS kicked, he hadn't a clue what it was!
If you've never felt it kick I'd suggest that you do as I suggested to my brother.     

[the alarming man]

no deffo works just tried it!! 

[Andy B]

no deffo works just tried it!! 

so you know what it feels like under your foot!