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Smirkly t1_j5bylg9 wrote

Reply to comment by Nutmegdog1959 in reliable older model used cars for Vermont weather by bramletabercrombe

It happened to me last night. I borrowed my son's Subaru to run down to the local store. My hill is steep and the last 30 yards is paved; brakes on and nothing, just sliding. Pumped but the brakes were working. I finally came to a halt just at the bottom but the AWD was no help at all. No surprise to me but my son thinks Subarus are magic.

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HappilyhiketheHump t1_j5c8r7b wrote

Pumping anti-lock brakes is not necessary.

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LobsterSuspicious836 t1_j5cprr5 wrote

Pumping anti lock brakes before they start rumbling, IS, necessary though... and you can figure out when they will rumble if you know what your doing and can assess the road way in front of you.

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HappilyhiketheHump t1_j5cr77f wrote

The anti-lock system will modulate the brakes many more times than a human is capable of and only modulate when slippage is detected.

I think was agree that slowing down/bleeding speed before hills and hard braking is needed is beneficial.

Based on the OP’s post, I don’t see them as skilled a winter driver with the knowledge to anticipate a slide.

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Smirkly t1_j5cyt9d wrote

I know that but they were locked and sliding, just a very slippery moment.

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Nutmegdog1959 t1_j5c0b56 wrote

The trick is lowest gear possible (mines a 5spd) then scrape off some speed by dragging the rear wheels using parking brake. You still have steering control and you can still pump brakes if need be.

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Maleficent_Rope_7844 t1_j5caewq wrote

If you break traction while using your transmission as a brake, it takes a lot longer to regain traction than if the wheels lock up from braking too hard. Unless you drive a manual, like yourself, but barely anyone does these days.

Pump the brakes and don't shift down.

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Smirkly t1_j5d093k wrote

Oddly I borrowed the Subaru because the roads were slippery and once on the road it was good. At the bottom of my hill I would have been better off with my ancient VW Jetta with 5 speed. I met this hill in 1967 so I go very slow but sometimes that just doesn't matter. Big storms are okay but those odd moments where nature greases the wheels can be entertaining.

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