Hopefully some severe snow won't be too far away now but I have a question.

The plan when driving on snow is to slow down using the gears but when braking is ever needed on snow, there is a juddering sensation through the brake pedal which is something to do with the ABS.

I have heard different views on what should be done in these circumstances. So what is the best option, keep applying the brakes despite the juddering or release and re-apply? LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Keep your foot on the brake! The juddering is the ABS releasing and reapplying far quicker than you ever could! Freelander 1 TD4 HSE - gone, 2 weeks after the Cat.Converter!
Freelander 2 TD4 SE Auto MY08 - Santorini black

if you feel juddering when breaking it means that your wheels are locking up and ABS is doing its job of trying to keep em moving.

If you are find that you get this juddering a lot you are either a) going to fast and need to take it slower or b) you have lead in your right foot!

In snow the trick really is to feather the brake pedal so that the ABS is not kicking in, jamming it on and off is not going to slow you down any more, you need to hold it just at the point when it does kick. Problem is that a lot of inexperienced drivers panic and jam on the brake, which in the dry or wet, ABS helps with as it means you can steer away from the obstacle, in the snow ABS is next to useless and in fact hitting the brake hard can have the reverse effect of making you speed up as the ABS is trying to keep you wheels turning.

Another top tip is to keep drive engaged for as long as possible so you get engine braking as well.. easier in an auto as it is always engaged, you risk stalling in a manual if not driven well.

So in summary, when driving in slow, do everything really slowly and gently. jamming brakes on will not work and just because you have a 4x4 does not mean you can stop any quicker than anyone else... quite the contrary, trying to pull 2 tonnes of car up to a halt will be significantly more difficult than a little light 2 wheel drive hatch with no ABS! Freelander 2 TD4 Auto, SE, Narvik Black, Alpaca full leather, Rear Headrest Entertainment System, 6 CD, 18 HSE Wheels, Privicy tints

ABS in snow is not desirable so it pays to be very gentle and have a feel for the brake conditions.
In snow a car will stop quicker if a locked wheel digs into the snow, pushing it forward and creating a wedge of snow in front of the tyre. As ABS will not allow a skid that build up of snow will never happen and will take longer to stop, although ABS will allow you to have better steering control.

Ideally drive as though you have no brakes, just using them to finally come to a stop.

EYorkshire wrote:

In snow a car will stop quicker if a locked wheel digs into the snow, pushing it forward and creating a wedge of snow in front of the tyre.

Anyone who hasn't driven much on snow / ice or isn't quite used to their vehicle should simply have a play in a large empty open space like a car park after it has snowed, and have a go at spinning the wheels, skidding, sharp turns and try the Terrain Response to see how it alters the FL2's set up.
Obviously conditions vary all the time, but at least it will give you an idea how the vehicle behaves when traction is lost in a safe environment, rather than feeling it for the first time on a busy road!

If going downhill, make sure HDC in 'on'. I've had this working on steep snow covered hills, very useful.
But it only comes on with very steep gradients.
Yes you're right, use the gears to slow down and if you really need to brake, let ABS do it. Remember stopping almost 2 tons takes some doing, having 4x4 doesn't make a scrap of difference in this respect. Winter tyres however, do help. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

I don't believe that the gradient has to be steep for HDC to work, I have used it several times and it works just fine anywhere, it will just brake the car to a set speed.

In a manual HDC will only work in 1st gear/reverse gear and it will work on any slope - it also works on near flat ground particularly if 'mud & ruts' is selected.

HDC will also work in 2nd gear in my 2007 manual GS (ignore the warning that it isn't available in this gear) and the speed of decent can be controlled by the cruise control +- buttons on the steering wheel.

Yes, does work in 2nd gear. Used in 2nd all last winter to good effect. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

According to the MY11 Handbook:
Manual transmission: HDC can be used in first or reverse gears.

While the 2007 Hanbook states:

If the vehicle is fitted with a manual
transmission, HDC should only be used in first,
or reverse gears.

However, elsewhere the standard speed for HDC in 2nd Gear is 9mph in Grass,Gravel,Snow and Mud Ruts and 10.3 mph in Sand. In 1st Gear the standard speed is 6.2mph in Grass, Gravel, Sbow and Mud Ruts and 9.5mph in Sand. The main difference between 1st and 2nd Gears is that in 1st you can set a lower speed of 4.7 mph and 6.2 mph (Sand) while in 2nd you are stuck with the standard speed.

For interest I tried using HDC in 2nd Gear in my MY11 Manual and it didn't work.

remember your car will not stall in 1st gear on a manual as its got anti stall built in.Just found that out after 4 years of ownership..

It does stall, mine stalled loads when off roading. More so when going down super steep hills and the hdc could not cope