So I drove my '01 Quattro through the snow on my way home from my aunts tonight for the first time, and was very excited to do so. I went into an empty parking lot and tried to pull some doughnuts, and surprisingly it wasn't that hard (at low speed). Then I turned on the EBS or whatever it is and I still slid around when I wanted it to. I noticed that when I tried to brake while sliding that my brakes would make a grinding noise and I couldn't depress the brake all the way like I normally can. This also happened while I was on the road and started to slip a little bit while coming to a stop sign. Is there something jacked with my brakes?

Edit-I have 62,000 miles (still need to get the 60k maintenance) with the original brakes I assume and I'm the 2nd owner. I bought it from a guy in Cali so this could have been the first time this car had been in the snow.

 

Thats your ABS working. Its supposed to get harder to push the pedal but you should still apply plenty of pressure.

 

Yep, ABS it is.

 

hahaha, i love it when people get freaked out when their car is doing something its supposed to. magic at work.

i <3 ABS.

 

I like it at times, others I don't.


You do know ABS actually INCREASES your stopping distance.

 

Yes it increases the stopping distance but it allows you to turn while braking

Slowb5 do you have any idea how many people think something is wrong with their car

To only tell them its operating perfectly, then they get all mad and say we are lieing to them

 

Exactly, I like it for that reason but if I'm boxed in and need to stop that extra 10 feet could mean me hitting someone/thing. Not that I should be in that situation but it could happen.

 

coupled with traction control its useful in the snow/ice, on its own it has little effect so don't rely on it "when you hear the breaks judder" its not/cant do its job because of the slippery surface

 

ABS is a completely different system from traction control, and will work absolutely fine even if the car don't have traction control. And when the brakes judder is excactly when it's doing its job. The "juddering keep the wheels from locking and lets you have control of the car no matter how hard you're braking.

Regarding braking distance:
ABS will SHORTEN brake distance, except when there is a layer of loose stuff between the tyre and the road (gravel, slush).
The friction (tyre-road) from a skidding tyre is LOWER than just before it starts skidding.
The ABS system will keep the working point of the brake around the point where the wheel starts skidding, giving a higher brake friction, than a skidding tyre.

 

learn to use your abs, it does increase stopping distance and it does let u brake while turning, what you need to do is practice threshold braking- aka- go to an audi driving school.

If you want to stop as fast as possible without turning apply your brakes UP to where the abs kicks in and hold it there, if u feel the abs kicking in, curl your toes in your shoes and that should let up off the brakes just enough to disengage the ABS