Re: A snow/ice storm and my A4Q (longish)...

[orin@netcom.com (Orin Eman)]

> Nits:  This is my first car with ABS, and while I don't deny it's
> ability to stop a car on the slick stuff I have found the the lack of a
> switch to defeat the system impairs my ability to determine how slick
> the roads actually are.  In non-ABS cars I can judge road conditions by
> gently pressing on the brake, while feeling for impending wheel lockup. 
> ABS doesn't allow me to do this test, or a least makes it harder to
> judge these matters since the ABS pulsations really mask any brake pedal
> feel.  Does anyone else feel this way, or do I just need to get use to
> the system?  I've even entertaind the idea of wiring in a 'defeat'
> switch to the ABS fuse...

I agree... sort of.  I found that my A4 1.8T stops better on snow and ice
if you keep it out of the ABS.  Why???  Well, my theory is that once
the ABS cuts in, it releases pressure to a slipping wheel a certain
percentage of the time, say 25% of the time, so you get less braking
than if the wheel was locked up!  Of course, you GAIN directional control.

Orin.