After you mentioned your concerns I took my Fit to the skid pad where we can water it down. The Fit ABS is noisy but I relate that to the Fit's lightness. Of course it takes longer to stop;ABS won't change the coefficient of friction between tires and road. It's sole purpose is to keep it driving IN THE DIRECTION YOU ARE STEERING. The 'grinding' noise is the repeating applying and releasing the brakes. With the wheels not locking the wheels will turn to maintain their direction, which a stationary wheel won't.
In the old days we used to practice what was called theshold braking which meant applying the brakes just hard enough to slow but not so hard as to lock the whhels and skidding who knows where.
In slippery conditions just drive slow as you can to maintain direction.

 

it's unfortunate that the abs noise is in fact so startling on the fit. just keep braking, the brakes are working fine.

 

Exactly! It sounds horrific, but that sound and the feedback from the brake pedal also lets you know that the ABS system is working. Let it do it's job and just slow down in icy conditions. The less momentum you have, the easier you'll stop.

 

If You wont to stop more effectywly on the Ice, buy new tires for example Michelin Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S prabobly have some good one for all sezon. Second, if you try to stop on the ice and ABS kiks in Don't press the brake so hard this will make less abs work on relesing the weel and the tires will have more contact with ground or ice (but this improwes braking only marginally)

 

I agree with you there. It's annoying for the ABS to kick because you hit a pothole.