As per title.

Due to packed snow and ice I am fed up of the ABS stopping the tyres digging in and stopping on our local 'non treated' roads, I may as well have no brakes at all .
Is there a quick way to de-activated the ABS, oh and re activate when on a main 'treated road'

TIA
Mike

Doubt it, just don't brake as hard, try to judge it just before the ABS kicks in.

Doesn't seem to matter how gently you brake on some of the packed snow/ice all you get is a pulsing pedal and the thought of "why did I bother braking"

find the fuse and pull it out?

thats what my mate who works for the RAC does, builds up the snow infront of the tires and helps him stop Former Mod/Member, with the most post & Chicken George Arch nemesis

Seems a very strange wish to turn off ABS

ABS brakes are the best thing that has happened for braking on ice and snow. Of course they work when it is slippery because that's what they are supposed to do

Breaking distances are MUCH shorter with ABS on snow and ice than without ABS. All the Norwegian motoring society's and clubs have proven that many times earlier in their testing.

So if you are having breaking problems in slippery conditions, you either have poor tyres not suitable for winter conditions, do not have the correct experience in using ABS or you have a problem with your Freely's ABS and need to visit the dealer ASAP.

Nick - If your mate disconnected his ABS and had an accident, where would he stand with his insurance  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
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Could be poor tyres or over sensitive ABS

I am well used to no ABS in a 90 with no ABS, and a SWB Shogun with ABS, but both had BFG All terrains on, which would be my preference for the FL2, but they don't do them for 18" FL2 wheels as far as I can see.

I also ride a bike off road and I am well used(experienced in) off road riding/driving, it is my preference to lock up slide, and release to steer, whether car or bike.

BUT I am not pulling a fuse to turn ABS off, I will have to abuse my handbrake

ABS doesn't shorten a breaking distance. It maintains a car from a sideslip. 
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Sorry for my wry English. I began to study it recently.
I'll be thankful for your corrections of my mistakes

lar wrote:

ABS doesn't shorten a breaking distance. It maintains a car from a sideslip.

agreed, in fact snow stopping distance can be longer with ABS, but you can at least steer during braking with ABS. An non abs wheel locks under braking bulldozing snow infront of it helping you stop. At work
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chicken george wrote:

lar wrote:

ABS doesn't shorten a breaking distance. It maintains a car from a sideslip.

agreed, in fact snow stopping distance can be longer with ABS, but you can at least steer during braking with ABS. An non abs wheel locks under braking bulldozing snow infront of it helping you stop.

You should get your facts correct before writing them on a forum  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
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http://www.abs-education.org/faqs/faqindex.htm

Im not going to argue with you, I know Im right At work
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I think "snow' type and depth, car tyre type, and wear make so much difference, a standardised test probably proves what you are saying about stopping distances.
BUT
In the UK we don't really get much snow, usually not very deep (couple of inches) and the 'normal summer' tyres our cars wear (if not too worn) will cut through/push it forward in front of the tread to reach down to the road surface and so helps to stop. Unfortunately IMHO ABS with worn summer tyres simply stops any braking effect on a shiny thin polished icy top of an inch or so of snow.
This is my experience, and my opinion only,
I prefer to be sliding, and control that, rather than prevent it happening. This suits me and the way I have learned to deal with slippy conditions, if there is space. If not I simply drive more slowly using gears and throttle control to slow it. In am just slightly surprised how sensitive the system is on my FL2, and the fact I can't turn it off temporarily.

Thanks elephant for the link

Quote for the info:
Do cars with ABS stop more quickly than cars without it? Not always. Although the stopping distance with ABS is shorter under most road conditions, drivers should always keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of them and maintain a speed consistent with the road conditions. While a vehicle with ABS maintains its steering capability in a sudden stop, it may not turn as quickly on a slippery road as it would on dry pavement.

Is what I was referring/reacting to  2007 Freelander 2 HSE TD4 Manual with Premium Pack & Moonroof.
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I think CG was referring to this;

Quoting the same page
"In what circumstances might conventional brakes have an advantage over ABS?
There are some conditions where stopping distance may be shorter without ABS. For example, in cases where the road is covered with loose gravel or freshly fallen snow, the locked wheels of a non-ABS car build up a wedge of gravel or snow, which can contribute to a shortening of the braking distance."

My personal experience involves my farm lane (private road so snow cleared/salted by my good self). I drive down the lane in thick snow, (thicker than actual snow fall due to the hedge that traps snow drifts). ) The lane is a steep hill with a busy road at the bottom
Our 90 defender would always stop due to the snow wedges that pushed up infront of the wheels,but more modern vehicles (fl1 then ford ranger) with abs simply refuse to lock the wheels (so no snow wedges) causing a few brown trouser moments during my early morning snow clearing trips.

Norwegian snow may be more powdery due to much colder temps so not wedge in the same way , but in English sloppy snow ABS can be a disadvantage.

I once discussed this with a technical expert from vauxhall at a 'see and drive day' event, he said that ABS cuts out at speeds below 4 mph (approx I cant fully remember) so that the wheels would lock and cause the all important snow wedge to stop the car.
He was demonstrating ABS at the time using a cradle round the car fitted with castors to gently lift the car off its own wheels to stimulate low grip conditions.

Enough said really I have driven both types in the same conditions many times, and now that cars have ABS I simply choose to take the digger instead , no problems
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