I was driving my RDX during the snow storm in Chicago with 3 other passengers. The road was slippery and everytime I brake I would hear a crunching sound. My passengers even asked me about it and said it didn't sound right. I've heard this sound before even on dry pavement when I had to do a fast stop.

Aslo, before someone ask, I was not braking hard in the snow to hear the sound. I was maybe driving 10-20 mph on side streets. There were "stop" signs and since the road was very slippery, I was just trying to do slow controlled stopping because I didn't want to slide into the intersection.

Is this sound normal? I thought it could be the ABS. Or should I get it checked?

 

It's likely ABS, especially if you felt a vibration through the brake pedal.

 

^^--- seconded. ABS on the RDX seems really loud compared to other cars I've driven. BUT, it works really well (and often) in snow.

 

ABS sounds exactly like a crunching on most of the cars I've tested it with. If you don't have snow tires then it doesn't take much braking to kick in the ABS.

FWIW, ABS can actually increase stopping distances on snow and loose gravel, but it provides much better directional control which is more important. The real answer to safe stopping on snow is to get snow tires...

 

Thanks, it's good to hear it's normal. It's just the other people in the car thought it was odd and I've never driven a car with ABS that noticable.

 

yea ABS was similar on my 1992 Accord EX very loud.