ABS in snow = cannot stop?

[BlueTurbo]

It may sound odd in this day and age but my b7 is the first car I have ever owned with anti-lock brakes. I had not caused the abs to come on at all until it snowed recently. I was coming down an off ramp, applied the brakes lightly, and the abs came on, at which point the car almost completely ceased to slow down, and just slid forward no matter how hard I hit the brakes. There was packed snow but it was like being on a hockey rink. Is this normal?

[scot_w]

ABS just prevents the wheels from locking which allows you to maintain control it does not always make you stop faster. Likely it was ice under the hard pack. ABS or not you were not going to be stopping quickly. The ABS just kept you from spinning like a top.

[4RingsFreak]

In my opinion ABS is terrible in the snow. Snow is similar to being on gravel or dirt as far as stopping. You want the brakes to lock and dig a rut to stop the car. My previous car had a way of disabling my ABS, and even stated to do so if driven in the snow. I don't know if there is a way to disable it on Audi's or not. You just gotta be careful obviously in the snow with the risk of ice.

[b5bossman]

It may sound odd in this day and age but my b7 is the first car I have ever owned with anti-lock brakes. I had not caused the abs to come on at all until it snowed recently. I was coming down an off ramp, applied the brakes lightly, and the abs came on, at which point the car almost completely ceased to slow down, and just slid forward no matter how hard I hit the brakes. There was packed snow but it was like being on a hockey rink. Is this normal?

Abs may be more sensitive in b7's anticipate your driving grade and downshift, after you use gears a bit, then try applying a little braking...

[onemoremile]

The car will decelerate much better if it is in gear. When in gear the four tires are connected through the drivetrain which helps limit slip. I live on a block with a hill at each end so I get to almost slide into traffic daily.

[onemoremile]

In my opinion ABS is terrible in the snow. Snow is similar to being on gravel or dirt as far as stopping. You want the brakes to lock and dig a rut to stop the car. My previous car had a way of disabling my ABS, and even stated to do so if driven in the snow. I don't know if there is a way to disable it on Audi's or not. You just gotta be careful obviously in the snow with the risk of ice.


Locking up creates a snow pile in front of the tires and that is what helps it slow down. ABS lets the tires roll over the snow and compress it and that doesn't help traction.