Re: ABS ACTIVATING @ 3MPH

[DeWitt Harrison <de@aztek-eng.com>]

On Wed, 03 Dec 1997 06:56:55 -0500, Robert Myers wrote:

>- ---snip happens---
>
>>Excuse me, but I'm confused. By your reference to the pedal "pulsating" I
>>assume you're implying that your ABS was ON. Right? And you did stop in
>>time? Right? So what's your beef against ABS in the snow? How do you offer
>>this experience as evidence that ABS didn't work to your advantage? Since
>>I'm sure you wouldn't rather have had your V8 slide ever so smoothly into
>>the rear seat of that car, you must believe that you would have stopped
>>sooner without ABS. But that's pure conjecture.
>>
>>I disagree with your advice about deactivating ABS in the snow.
>
>Most of the time I'd agree with you, Phil.  The exception is when the snow
>is pretty deep and heavy.  Then the ABS probably won't stop you faster than
>(semi-)locked wheels and the wedge of snow that you are shoving along with
>the tires.
>
> Bob

Standard winter thread. Lots of stuff in the archives. My owners manual
suggests switching off the ABS in low traction situations to reduce stopping
distance. I and others have done A-B comparisons and found this to be
excellent advice for the type 44 cars. ABS does prevent the car from doing
funny things like spinning, but at the cost of significantly greater stopping
distances on snow, ice and loose surfaces. Perhaps ABS technology has
advanced in the last 5 years.

DeWitt Harrison    de@aztek-eng.com
Boulder, CO
88 5kcstq