Hi all....I took my G35x up to New England for the holidays and we had a minor snow storm last night. The good thing: I got to check out how my '04 G35x AWD handles in snow for the first time since owning it. Handling was decent....but it's definitely not a SUV. I was easily capable of making my car slip/fishtail on roads with 1-3" of snow. But if I didn't over-accelerate (ie, drive my car like I normally would on dry pavement), the G handled quite fine.

The bad news: With or without the Snow mode engaged, if I hit the brakes, some loud "chunking" noises are made when the car rolls to a stop in SNOW. The noises don't start as soon as I hit the brakes but occur probably mid-way to when the car finally comes to a rest. They are loud, and it almost sounds like something is sticking and then releasing, with a loud chunk/sound of a metal springs releasing. Whenever I hear a chunk, I also feel quite a bit of feedback on the brake pedal. I don't think this is the ABS kicking in, because a) I'm not slamming on the brakes when this happens, I can be breaking normally and it'll happen b) All of the cars with ABS that I've had before, the brakes pulsate quickly when the ABS kicks in...the chunking noises and feedback don't occur in quick pulses.

So, anyone experience the same thing I'm experiencing? This doesn't happen on dry (or wet) pavement - I've verified that today. This only when I'm driving down a road that has 1"+ of snow on it. The SLIP light doesn't come on either. I don't have my manual with me, so I can't tell if this is normal or not

Any advice, insight, similar stories appreciated.

Thanks a ton guys....

PS - BTW, I only have a stock G35x.

 

I drove my 05 g35x on an inch of snow last night. Also, I didn't slam on the brake, but press it hard enough to get the ABS to kick in. It doesn't feel like the ABS on my accord and it felt kinda like how you described it. To me, I think that's ABS that kicked in.

 

Almost forgot, the noise wasn't loud for me. But enough that I can hear it with some radio playing in the background. It sounded like someone squeezing a rusty spring together.

 

Mikeee2 - So there was no pulsating? My brakes usually chunk like 3 times when braking in the snow, but not in rapid succession. They occur with probably .25seconds of time between each chunk. Otherwise, I haven't heard or felt this on dry/wet pavement. I can get this to happen going between 15-20mph.

 

It's the VDC in combination with the ABS. It's loud as all heck and kind of sounds like the titanic going down. It also sometimes is audible AFTER you release the brakes too.

Don't sweat it, it's perfectly normal. I don't have an X but the sound you described in combination with the environment you described (snow) tells me it's your VDC and ABS.

To prove it out, do the same on a gravel road when you get some reprieve from the snow.

Have fun!

 

It's the ABS engaging. It's normal.

 

A little bit. It's normal. That's how ABS works anyway. Don't worry...it's all good. Your car is under warranty dude...relax.

 

Same thing used to happen on my IS300. Its the ABS. Haven't gotten to drive my X in the snow yet this year. We had a dusting yesterday, but not enough to test it out....so sad....

 

There is no comparison when it comes to an SUV or G35x. No matter what car or truck you drive the most important thing driving in the snow are the tires and your speed. AWD only helps you get the car moving but does not help you corner or stop. I guarantee you will see a big difference with snow tires.

 

Yes its normal noise, and all vehicles have thier limits... Just because you have awd or an SUV, does not mean you will not fishtail/loose contro... If you ever notice, most accidents are caused by people in SUVs flying in snow thinking they can... So be safe!!!