George Rochford

We have been having heavy duty lake effect snow here in Lake County Ohio (about 45 minutes east of Cleveland). I read some time ago that braking distances were shorter in snow with the ABS disconnected. The theory is that a wedge of snow builds in front of the tires helping the vehicle to slow quicker. Well, I did some 30mph-0 braking tests with the ABS an also by pulling the number 7 fuse resulting in an ABSless A4. My crude test measurements (mail boxes) found that the car stopped in about the same distance with or without ABS. Maybe a few feet shorter without. But, with ABS disconnected, braking would try to pull the car sideways and off the road every time. With ABS the car stopped straight and true. So even if the distance was shorter I prefer the directional stability of the ABS. I tried this test because it seemed that the ABS was interfering too much on the braking in the snow, I guess I was just so damned slippery. My old 5000Tq had a switch on the dash which would allow you to turn off the ABS. Audi must have done that for a reason, then they took the feature out in the newer cars for a reason.?? Maybe the test results would be different at 60mph, but I can't do that around here. Anyone else care to comment?<p>Happy New Year<br>George<br>97 1.8TqAS TAPII<br>94 911 Carrera 4

Bob Petruska

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JonC

Your test is consistent with what I've read: that one may be able to stop a little sooner if your technique is good, without ABS: but you gain directional stability that may allow you to steer around any obstacles that the longer stopping distance may bring into your path.

Rich

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