Brakes shudder?

[ipy]

Wonder if any Passat owners have this issue? One of the roads around our neighbourhood/home has about 10 road humps every 150 metres or so. When I use this road & after going through about 6 or 7 of these road humps, the brakes shudder & loses it's grip. It feels like the brakes are gripping on the disc/metal? The brakes will return to it's normal state once I apply the brakes with a bit of pressure. My Passat is MY06.

[Swallowtail]

Sure it's not your ABS kicking in? If you go over a bump and brake the wheels lose grip which can cause ABS to activate. Happens to me occasionally.

[ipy]

Sure it's not your ABS kicking in? If you go over a bump and brake the wheels lose grip which can cause ABS to activate. Happens to me occasionally.

Thanks. Yes, I was wondering if its the ABS that's causing this. It works fine during normal driving. I will check with the dealer to be sure.

[tryingavw]

Thanks. Yes, I was wondering if its the ABS that's causing this. It works fine during normal driving. I will check with the dealer to be sure.

almost certainly is. try pushing the brake pedal quite firmly over the bump and you may feel feedback ( kind of like have someone quickly punch your foot) as the ABS operates.

In fact with any new car i get on a backroad and jump ( literall- as hard as i can!) on the anchors to get a feel for how the ABS will operate unde extreme braking.

[Swallowtail]

Yup. Gotta do that with mine. Keep thinking about it, haven't done it yet.

[Transporter]

It shouldn't work at low speeds (less than 40km/h). At least on some cars anyway.

[gerhard]

It shouldn't work at low speeds (less than 40km/h). At least on some cars anyway.

It's true that ABS must switch off at low speed - if it didn't, the car would never stop.

Speed at which it ceases to function varies with different vehicles. I'm not sure I'd like a system where it is switched off at a quite high 40km/h, I think I'd rather 15 or 20 for a suburban use car. In my 4WD, the ABS is off in low range 4WD. The stability control also uses the ABS system and could easily be needed at less than 40ks as well, so there's another factor the programmers have to consider.

Pity the shut off low speed isn't publicised for our Dubs,

[Treza360]

Doing a test emergency stop in your car is always a very good idea.

Head out to an empty industrial estate at night or on the weekend and find a good stretch where you can see all around you and go up to 40km/h and slam on the brakes as far you can push the pedal. Do the same thing at 60km/h.

Knowing how your car reacts and what you can expect in that kind of situation and not hesitating or backing off the breaks maybe what saves you running up someones backside or an even bigger or worse accident.

Cheers,
Trent

[Transporter]

It's true that ABS must switch off at low speed - if it didn't, the car would never stop.

Speed at which it ceases to function varies with different vehicles. I'm not sure I'd like a system where it is switched off at a quite high 40km/h, I think I'd rather 15 or 20 for a suburban use car. In my 4WD, the ABS is off in low range 4WD. The stability control also uses the ABS system and could easily be needed at less than 40ks as well, so there's another factor the programmers have to consider.

Pity the shut off low speed isn't publicised for our Dubs,

Gerhard,
I haven't made it up, in some vehicles like MB Vito year 2002 ABS doesn't come onto play when you do less than 40km/h and I believe that MB engineers knew what they were doing.

Also remember that ABS will prolong your stopping distance.

[apom]

Head out to an empty industrial estate at night or on the weekend and find a good stretch where you can see all around you and go up to 40km/h and slam on the brakes as far you can push the pedal. Do the same thing at 60km/h.

Great place to test out the launch control also!!!