Traction Control vs Savvy Driver
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Sierra Foothills, CA
Traction Control vs Savvy Driver
Does the traction control do anything that an experienced, attentive driver can't do? The option sounds great if it really controls traction better, but I'm concerned it may just be an unnecessary complication.
What's your opinion?<O
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What's your opinion?<O
</O
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Washington State
Are you an experience, attentive driver? Can you stop one of your rear wheels from spinning on snow, ice or mud with your hands? No? See...traction devices are good. 
What kind of TC are you referring to? Mechanical or ABS based? Well...doesn't matter really. Both can pull you out of a jam.
What kind of TC are you referring to? Mechanical or ABS based? Well...doesn't matter really. Both can pull you out of a jam.
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Senior User
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From: Sierra Foothills, CA
Traction control is an option on the '08 SD. The description says "This system notices when a wheel begins to slip, prevents it from spinning so the vehicle maintains maximum traction".
Cost is $130
Cost is $130
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
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Aint those book learnin words for Limited slip?
No really, I do not know the 08 very well, but for $130 bucks it sounds like some fancy description of a LS rear axle. I doubt they could offer an independant braking controller for each wheel to accomplish this.
Traction aid devices are in my opinion well worth the investment. People, no matter how good they are, just can't react fast enough to compete with an electronic traction control device, for either accelleration, or decelleration.
No really, I do not know the 08 very well, but for $130 bucks it sounds like some fancy description of a LS rear axle. I doubt they could offer an independant braking controller for each wheel to accomplish this.
Traction aid devices are in my opinion well worth the investment. People, no matter how good they are, just can't react fast enough to compete with an electronic traction control device, for either accelleration, or decelleration.
Sit. Stay.
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 18,308
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From: Washington State
I asked this question a while ago and was told that the ABS is still only 2 channel and that the traction control can't be ABS based. I'm still curious as to exactly what that option is and how it functions.
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Fords new system computes wheel speed from the differential and modulates torque to create optimum traction for a particular terrain. It determines the speed of the front vs. the rear wheels, for example, and based on the differential speed (and whether it senses slip-out of the rear wheels), it reduces rear torque to match the front. the system works in 2wd only, and offers drivers the option of shutting it down.
" Engine torque traction control is much more precise than brake controlled traction control because it drives you to the best friction point for tires to surface."
Dan Gompper
Ford vehicles dynamics supervisor
So it would appear that this system does not use brakes for traction control, and only regulates engine output to match front wheel speed, and rear wheel speed. They also went on to say that ABS traction type system, were more complex, and did wear out brakes more rapidly.
Hope that clears it up............. I found a combination of these items from a press release for the 08 SD, and some from a written article regarding the press release.
" Engine torque traction control is much more precise than brake controlled traction control because it drives you to the best friction point for tires to surface."
Dan Gompper
Ford vehicles dynamics supervisor
So it would appear that this system does not use brakes for traction control, and only regulates engine output to match front wheel speed, and rear wheel speed. They also went on to say that ABS traction type system, were more complex, and did wear out brakes more rapidly.
Hope that clears it up............. I found a combination of these items from a press release for the 08 SD, and some from a written article regarding the press release.
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Spend the money.
I have never had traction control in a truck, but my car has it. It is a '98 Jaguar and there is one time I really remember the traction control coming to my rescue. I was about an hour away from home in the early fall and a freak snow storm hit. It dumped enough snow that it was sticking to the ground. It was about 4 inches deep and I had 75 miles to get home. The car with TC on wouldn't let me spin the wheels and helped me maintian control. Without it there is just too much power going to the rear wheels. IMO it would be $130 well spent if it helps you avoid just one accident.
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From: Hamilton, MT
If the traction control system is similar to the one in the '05 Mustang GT you can disable it..but in the mustang when you hit the switch to disable it...heh its really not disabled...I might be wrong but if you wanted to do a burnout and you hit the TC swith to disable, it will let you do a burnout but its limited to about 20 to 30 seconds but it is never totaly disabled. When I had my '05 Mustang GT even with the TC on I could start to spin the tires in a straight line, but it would bog down. Supposedly Ford designed the TC to be smart and be able to tell if you are willingly trying to spin the tires or if your not, if you are willingly try to spin the tires it will let you and it wont kick in unless you let off the gas or exceed a certain amout of seconds. Thats just my experiance with my '05 Mustang GT Autotrans......its nice to have TC and if you want to do a little tire squealing then it will let you but whenyou get into a hairy situation its nice to know its there.
