I was coming down a small decline where there was approx. 2-3 inches of snow. I then hit the clutch and brake at the same time. The car began to skid. The brake then started to feel like someone was pushing up while I was pushing down. It sounded like something was going to break. I don't understand. This has happened on more than one occasion. Actually everytime I have pressed down on the clutch and brake in the snow it has happened. Can anyone else verify this or explain what may be the problem/cause? Thanx.

 

Maybe what you are feeling is your ABS kicking in.

 

I don't mean to make this sound insulting, but was the upward pressure on the brake pedal a repetitive pressure with a sound similar to that of a drum beat?

That would have been the anti-lock brakes trying to regain traction.

If you are fully aware of ABS behavior and are certain this is not the case, I don't mean to be Captain Obvious...my apologies

 

Its the ABS I think...

 

The upward pressure is somewhat constant and the sound was like a fast drum beat. Maybe it was ABS, but I wasn't aware that you could literally feel the ABS in your braking foot. I thought that it would simply have all the wheels lock up. Are you supposed to feel like the actual brake pedal is vibrating? I'm also not sure because I have slammed on the brakes and pressed the clutch down at the same time during dry weather and it doesn't seem to happen. I don't know if I have ever skidded in dry weather though. Thanx for all your help.

 

Check out this link to read all about ABS and what happens when it kicks in.

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/proble...absbrakes.html

 

The first time I drove in the snow, I did the same thing... Approached a light, pushed in the clutch and then hit the brake and had no clue what the hello was going on with the pedal and then I thought of ABS.

 

Thanx. That link helped a lot.

 

To be redundant, I am 100% sure that was ABS you experienced. Yes you can hear it and feel it in the car. The chances of ABS engaging on dry roads are slim as typically you have plenty of traction and none of the wheels will get near locking.

 

Today in Brooklyn it was raining, so I was coming in a little too fast for a stop sign, pressed brake hard, and felt same vibrating. Yeah 100% it was your ABS. I have never drove a stick b4, and was wondering that whenever you brake, you have to press the clutch in as well?

 

Not to mention the obvious, but when there's snow on the ground, use the manual transmission to your advantage. You can downshift and use the engine braking to slow you down. Then you don't have to press the brakes as hard which will prevent the ABS from kicking in.

 

i'd rather use brakes then downshift.. ABS is there for a reason..

 

yup.. it's the ABS.. that's why they tell you that if you have ABS equiped car... keep the pressure on the pedal.. don't pump it... just keep pushing it in...

 

Here's a thing useful to owners of 2k2.

Because of the 2k2's "Brake Assist" feature in most cases the computer will keep pressing on the brake for you.

I've had to stop immediately once to avoid an accident, the ABS kicked in but at the same time the brake pedal just went down on itself around a second or split second after i floored the pedal.

It feels like you press it half-way and the computer just speeds up the process and presses it further for you (in a way that i actually had to catch up with the pedal)

 

This is definitly the ABS. I experience the same think all the time when driving in snow conditions (I live in Montreal !!!).

If it's the first time that you drive a car with ABS, can I make a sound suggestion? Go to an empty parking lot (a big one) covered with snow (or ice) and practice your braking. It's not a trivial transition from standard brakes and you need a bit of practice. I've done the same thing last winter, and I can assure you that it saved me from bad situations.

Go and enjoy the ride !!!