Braking in Rain

[LisasX]

Hi Guys,
I am a aggressive driver who has noticed that my X falls short in braking performance in Rain and snow.
In fact it seems the anti lock has made my 4x4 Xterra very unsafe when braking hard.
How many of you have slammed on your brakes in rain or snow to see how quickly you realize the antilock system is simply not capable of stopping your X in time?
If some of you would try this experiment in a closed, safe parking lot on a rainy day, please get back to me in the next weeks following this post.
I would truly like to see a poll done on this to verify to my dealer that this is a isolated case with my vehicle or not.
If you brake hard, as in an emergency situation, you'll be suprised to see your X going straight on through the stop light.
Please let me know.
Lisa in the Mountains.

[warmonger]

Lisa,

I don't know if this is any help to your case, odds are it may not be. My 2000 X is a workhorse. It pulls my 3,500 lb ski boat all over the state of Florida. So far I have had no braking issues with it even with the incredibly heavy ski boat I tow with it. Now mind you, the ski boat has disc brakes. At this point I have no compaints whatsoever.

I can tell you that so far I have replaced my master cylinder (rear brakes not grabbing) and had to repair a r/f caliper that had frozen thanks to mud. So far that is it.

[ChuckH]

I don't understand the pole questions? Are we just suppose to select the one that we have a problem with? What if someone has problems in all three?

Anyway, I have absolutely no complaints about my Xterra's braking. It stops faster than any other vehicle I've owned on dry and no worse in water or such unless I'm running my mud tires. As far as the brakes and the ABS system go, I find the Xterra to be exceptional and the ABS system is very smart.

I will say this though. If you still have the factory issue tires then that's probably where your problem is. Both the BFG LongTrail and especially the General Grabber are notoriously poor performers when the weather turns. No surprise there though, as they are also poor dry performers.

[Schludwiller]

I too have found the ABS to be very solid. I've braked in snow offroad and onroad and was very happy with how quickly I was able to stop. However I dumped my stock tires a long time ago and use AT's in snow.

[kinetic]

Originally posted by LisasX
....I am a aggressive driver ...

I think that is your problem more so than anything else.

[OffroadX]

Agreed. I can't remember the last time I triggered my ABS for more than a brief moment in anything but wintery conditions.
The X has excellent brakes, and has been tested to stop 60-0 in about 130 feet which is as good as if not better than many high-dollar sport sedans and quite a few cheap sports cars.
If your ABS is triggering prematurely or pulsing at an improper/sub-optimal rate, then you might have a problem to report, possibly a defective G-sensor. But if you're bitching that the ABS makes for long stops, well, that's just normal. You're already exceeding the available grip and you would need a considerable distance to stop anyway if you were to modulate the brakes yourself. The ABS does it far better than you can but the rapid on-off-on-off-on-off means that there's a good bit of "off" time which extends your stopping distance. Nothing you can do about that and it's how they all work.

Now slow the hell down and/or back off.
Brent

[LisasX]

Thanks for your replies so far.
The poll is misleading and I must say that I was hoping to see how many drivers had braking problems in wet weather.
Once again MY X has had poor braking ability since it was new.
Perhaps it is a sensor issue. I have no other means to question a large group of X owners except for here. This forum is designed to inform the users, I appreciate the feedback.
I am also VERY happy to know some of you have great braking X's.
Your responces have provided me with hope!!!!!!!

I may have purchased the one that has a factory problem.
Truly, if you push the pedal down in rainy weather, my X's anti lock is grabbing very poorly. this is a major concern for our saftey.
Perhaps when it rains again for you, you will try to brake your X in an emergency situation and see.
Thanks again for your quick responces.

[Schludwiller]

I put in another option in the poll.

Just a thought. Do you know how to use ABS? You are supposed to apply even pressure just like you would in normal braking situations (or what is required in an emergency). Don't pump the brake pedal as that defeats the purpose and performance of the ABS.

Just checking. For some people this is their first vehicle with ABS.

[Speed]

My wife drives a 2001 VW Passat V6 GLS, my X has MUCH better braking feel and response, including the ABS functionallity. I would agree that changing tires will help considerably.