Wheel slippage when applying brake in snow
02-05-15, 11:21 AM
#1
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Wheel slippage when applying brake in snow
This morning I was driving my 08 Lexus RX350 in fresh snow in Boston area. When I applied brake I noticed the wheel slipping/sliding and I heard brake noise (some sort of cracking noise - I don't know how to define that sound :-). It was fresh snow, may be an inch or two and I was driving around 10 miles. I have to pound on the brakes and it took few seconds before it stopped and I narrowly avoid hitting the suv in front of me.
I was driving with all season tires and ECT snow mode was not on during that time. Could that be a problem?
A week back I replaced the rear brake pads (akebono ceramic) & rotors (raybestos) at a local garage. Will it be a problem with the way it is replaced? or will there be any issue with ABS?
I was driving with all season tires and ECT snow mode was not on during that time. Could that be a problem?
A week back I replaced the rear brake pads (akebono ceramic) & rotors (raybestos) at a local garage. Will it be a problem with the way it is replaced? or will there be any issue with ABS?
02-05-15, 11:47 AM
#2
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The "cracking noise" you heard was most likely the ABS activating.
And, you shouldn't "pound on the brake" in the snow. That's not going to help.
If you plan on driving in the snow, get proper snow tires. Using snow mode isn't going to make a difference when trying to stop.
And, you shouldn't "pound on the brake" in the snow. That's not going to help.
If you plan on driving in the snow, get proper snow tires. Using snow mode isn't going to make a difference when trying to stop.
02-05-15, 05:16 PM
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The "cracking noise" you heard was most likely the ABS activating.
And, you shouldn't "pound on the brake" in the snow. That's not going to help.
If you plan on driving in the snow, get proper snow tires. Using snow mode isn't going to make a difference when trying to stop.
And, you shouldn't "pound on the brake" in the snow. That's not going to help.
If you plan on driving in the snow, get proper snow tires. Using snow mode isn't going to make a difference when trying to stop.
Tried applying brakes without snow and it no longer makes cracking noise. Hopefully it is the ABS. Yeah, I have to get snow tires.
02-05-15, 06:57 PM
#5
Snow tires aren't going to help you stop, at least not enough for it to matter. Just slow down, and give alot more room to stop safely. the abs system in the rx works very well. My rx is better in the snow and ice then the Jeeps that ive owned,( at least on the road, awd does not compare to 4wd in a Jeep when it comes to deep snow or offroad.)
02-05-15, 07:31 PM
#6
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=109
In the snow, from 30mph all season tires stopped in 102ft while snow tires stopped in 61ft.
02-05-15, 08:33 PM
#7
As someone that uses snow tires, I disagree. In my experience, snow tires have helped me stop straighter and shorter than all seasons. I just googled for some solid test results and found that tire rack has some good test data:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=109
In the snow, from 30mph all season tires stopped in 102ft while snow tires stopped in 61ft.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...y.jsp?ttid=109
In the snow, from 30mph all season tires stopped in 102ft while snow tires stopped in 61ft.
Last edited by LazarusLng; 02-05-15 at 08:37 PM.
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02-09-15, 09:26 AM
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Try as best you can to avoid using the brakes in snow/ice. Go slow - plan stops w-a-y in advance whenever you can - use the gear shift to slow you- try to never brake in a curve or turn - and invest in real snow tires (NOT "mud&snow or "all weather" or any other compromise tire).
Once you have a good set of snow tires on the car you'll feel so much more secure while driving that you'll wonder how it is that you never discovered such magic before. However, don't let the good feelings make you overconfident in your traction; it'll be a lot better but you are still vulnerable whenever driving in slippery conditions.
Smile as you pass wrecks and cars that have slid off the road.
Once you have a good set of snow tires on the car you'll feel so much more secure while driving that you'll wonder how it is that you never discovered such magic before. However, don't let the good feelings make you overconfident in your traction; it'll be a lot better but you are still vulnerable whenever driving in slippery conditions.
Smile as you pass wrecks and cars that have slid off the road.
Last edited by realkrs; 02-09-15 at 09:37 AM.
02-09-15, 10:41 AM
#11
Suggestions: Take a driving course with a "skid car", or find a nice icy parking lot and practice. You will learn to go light on the brakes and let the ABS and compression braking do its thing. Dedicated snow tires with studs (if legal) work well. And watch your rear view mirror as the car behind you may not stop as well as you can.
02-09-15, 08:20 PM
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I've now racked up 10 years of driving my RX in the Northeast. Here are my pointers:
1. Get snow tires (for reasons already stated by our fellow users).
2. Invest in a jack, jack stands, a lug cross-tool, and torque wrench with a 21mm–correct me if I'm wrong–socket. Nobody's so busy they can't rotate/change their own tires every 4-6 months, and you can still use these (maybe not the socket) for your future cars. This is more a pointer to save you some dollars down the line. Also, you'll be able to keep your snow tires in good condition longer if you roll em out for even just a mile, a few times a year, to keep the polymer in the tires fluid.
3. Drive using Shiftronic mode, for two reasons; you have engine braking, which will be better for "coasting down" in a predictable way, and you become so much more aware of your speed. Which leads me to...
4. Drive slow. Not an indictment against you, because I've slid stopping from 5 mph. However, none of the above things (nor a great AWD system) will give any car the ability to brake on snow or ice like it would on dry road.
1. Get snow tires (for reasons already stated by our fellow users).
2. Invest in a jack, jack stands, a lug cross-tool, and torque wrench with a 21mm–correct me if I'm wrong–socket. Nobody's so busy they can't rotate/change their own tires every 4-6 months, and you can still use these (maybe not the socket) for your future cars. This is more a pointer to save you some dollars down the line. Also, you'll be able to keep your snow tires in good condition longer if you roll em out for even just a mile, a few times a year, to keep the polymer in the tires fluid.
3. Drive using Shiftronic mode, for two reasons; you have engine braking, which will be better for "coasting down" in a predictable way, and you become so much more aware of your speed. Which leads me to...
4. Drive slow. Not an indictment against you, because I've slid stopping from 5 mph. However, none of the above things (nor a great AWD system) will give any car the ability to brake on snow or ice like it would on dry road.
02-18-15, 05:49 AM
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02-18-15, 06:04 AM
#15
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