It's never been a problem for me and I have had my trucks in plenty of mud and gravel. With ABS at least you can still steer.

Mike

 

oh i know the steering issue with locked brakes. That's how I wrecked my ranger on ice. You won't have a problem with ABS in mud and gravel but the stopping distance is a tad farther than locked brakes.

 

If it hadn't been for ABS, I would have definitely wrecked our 08 ambulance in a recent ice storm. I was only going about 5MPH but the road was downhill and totally covered in ice. There were vehicles on both sides and it was only 2 lanes. The ABS relieved me of the task of pumping the brakes and allowed me to put all my attention on manuevering the vehicle. I still have no idea how we didn't hit though as I didn't think the gap was physically wide enough.

Overall I love the new systems like ABS, Controltrac with RSC and auto 4x4. We have all this on our 06 Explorer and I know that my wife can go drive in bad weather no problems without having to worry about if she knows when to use 4x4 and when to turn it off as well as having that extra safety net if things get hairy.

Mike

 

gotta admit, the intelligent AWD in the escape is nice, but I still don't care as much for ABS as I should.

 

Automotive technology topped out in the 1920's. The only advancements made are in fuel managment and safety systems. Traction control/ABS/airbags are saving lives every day. If these systems are keeping you from doing anything, you are misusing the vehicle.
When a single tire on a vehicle looses traction, the vehicle is out of control. For those of you kids who thinks it is cool to do donuts, you will change your mind when you have a bloody face full of glass.
Automobiles are not fun and games. The safety systems developed into cars these days are the best thing that has happened in decades to the automotive consumer.

 

really...so when I hit 2nd gear hard in my Stang and TC shuts the whole down...that is out of crontrol? or me mis-using it?

or in my Expedition which has the RSC and T/C light up when I'm driving on a dirt road at 30 mph?
Ford should offer these "Safety Features" like they were on the 03-08 Expeditions. OPTIONAL...not Mandatory.

 

Well i just had my first moment of TC. I just pulled out of lowes and light was green and about to change to red so i gave it a little gas as i was going around the corner the backend must have hit some oil or something on the wet road as the truck spun 90 degrees and TC cut power pretty quickly. It done it beofre i even noticed i was spinning lol. If i didnt i recon i would have done a 180 faceing oncoming traffic.

 

i personally like sliding "out of control", because a RWD is so easy to predict where the rear end is going, it's kinda just fun to whip it around. I think you can turn the TC off in the stangs, i know my uncles roush can

 

It's fine in controled conditons but it's not the sort of move ya wanna do on a busy intersection lol. Yeah i could have turned the TC off but i def wouldnt have reacted fast enough to stop me. The TC knew my Rear end broke lose before i even let of the gas. It's never done that before and i go around that part of the raod maybe 5-6 times a day when im working.

 

You mean I'm not supposed to do 180-degree turns and J-turns in performance vehicles due to the traction control?

Just because a wheel is spinning, the vehicle is not out of control. The control rests in the hands of the person operating it... you may be clueless and unable to drive without the help of such systems, but that's not the case for all of us.

Oh, and the safety systems aren't exactly good for everyone. Take a look at the training firefighters have to go through these days to deal with vehicle extrications - I'm a lot more worried about getting hurt in a serious extrication than in a structure fire.

 

Whoa!! You guy have me a bit confused about what I understood TC to do! All of you (not flaming you ) talk about the TC cutting the throttle when it detects one wheel spinning. All I have read is that the TC, when it detects one wheel spin, via the wheel/abs sensor, it applies the brakes to the spinning wheel to stop it, not kill the throttle. I'm thinking that the RSC may kill the throttle, but it should not see one wheel spinning because of the TC, unless your rear pads are totally gone, or you have overpowered the pads.

Several of us on the Expy forum have been wanting a "correct" answer to "what does a LS device in the rear hurt"? If this is all the TC does, I will (whenever I can get---Roundtuits) try for a Traction adder (gleason torsen or similar). I have an 07 expy EL and will one day, again tow a boat-----I hope!!

Where am I wrong on the TC function?

 

Does anybody know if you can program off the T/C in a newer Ford using a Programmer (SCT/Diablo)? Common trick in the Mustang scene, but I haven't heard about anybody doing it in these things.

I don't mind the RSC...it's actually quite hard to trigger. But I hate the TC.it does both. really a scary situation when it happens. The Expy kind of stumbles through it...the Mustang is like a dog hitting the end of it's leash...or a guy kicked in the junk.


The brakes get applied to the spinning wheel, and if you watch RPM, you will see and feel the engine stumble.

exact same effect as when you hit the Rev Limiter or Speed limiter. We're only talking about a 1 second or less throttle cut, but that is sufficient to kill the wheel spin. Then the motor is in alot lower RPM and not making as much power.

 

Oh Boy!! Guess I better find me a dirt road to experience this thing. That really sux. In earlier days, most people were better off with open diff's because of wet weather etc. at least one wheel maintained traction. What you did not want was a dummy with a Detroit Locker turning corners/intersections in wet weather.

From my view, it appears that a Traction adder (not a fan of LS's, particularly on big heavy vehicles, been there done that) needs to be really researched. I just dont see how it could adversely affect the TC or RSC. Seems to me the RSC is a "YAW" control. Hurry up somebody, find out for us

 

a ford traclok diff is better for cornering and traction overall than an open diff fyi

 

Traction control and stability management uses inputs from the wheel speed sensors, throttle ange, steering angle, load, trans gear, and others. the control unit takes these inputs and thru a predetermined MAP applies brake pressure AND throttle plate adjustments to control vehicle dynamics. These systems monitor more than 500,000 bits of info every second. It is smarter than anyone posting on this, or any, forum.
The level of intervention is predetermined and will typically stabalise a vehicle quickly. Certain manufacturers like Porsche and Mercedes limit the systems responce to allow spirited driving as their cars were intended. Second gear in a V8 Mustang is about where most idiots find a ditch. I fully belive that TYLUS is quite capable of handling this, but most people are not. The manufacturers have a ton of liability in the proper funtioning of these systems.
I spent decades studying and servicing these systems. After several seasons as a profesional, factory sponsored road-racing crew captain, we tested extensivly in the area of ABS/traction control with drivers everyone of you have heard of. The conclusion unanamously among our drivers was that these systems are much better than they were and wanted to race with it fully functioning. We only changed the reluctor rings at each wheel sensor to a modified "tooth count" to dial in bias.
The button on your dash will defeat the throttle adjustments, but maintain brake application for a few moments.
My ascertion that a wheel with traction loss is "out of control" is a theory that starts at the track and translates to the street. The loss of one tire's traction is a loss of control of the entire vehicle. Just watch a NASCAR race - keep in mind those guys are the best drivers in the world and can SOMETIMES catch a slide. You and I cannot.
These systems are the pinnicle in new vehicle development along with fuel managment and simply are saving lives everyday.
I am amazed at the number of young people who think that "drifting" is predictable or even controlable in a street driven truck. Most of these people are the first to cut the mufflers/cats of a newer vehicle and then decide they are God's gift to vehicle control just because they can slide a four-wheeler in the mud.
If you think you know how to drive - go to the track and learn from an experianced and licenced instructor(me).
You will never see traction control or even ABS if you are driving correctly.