[AT] The terror strikes again. - Studebaker speed response

[Stephen Offiler]

You've got to be careful making blanket statements about traction control.
 There are different technical approaches and within the approaches there's
different hardware and software providing various degrees of efficacy.

Some traction control systems merely cut back on engine power to reduce
wheelspin.  These systems aren't terribly effective but they do help some.

Some traction control systems will selectively apply some braking to a
spinning wheel which transfers some torque thru to the other drive wheel on
that axle via the normal action of an open differential.  You can cook the
brakes if you really stand on it long and hard in a very low-traction
situation with a system like this, but as long as you're careful, these
types of systems are significantly more effective.

The TC in my VW has multiple programs.  It changes sensitivity at 39 deg F,
and it has a manual setting so you can tell it if you've got real snow
tires installed.

If you're really in deep, you probably NEED some wheelspin, and that's why
all traction control systems (as far as I know) can be manually shut off.

SO






On Tue, Jun 3, 2014 at 9:03 AM, Ralph Goff <alfg at sasktel.net> wrote:

> On 6/3/2014 4:36 AM, charlie hill wrote:
> > Charlie V.
> >
> > I was of the same opinion about anti-lock brakes when they came out
> > until we bought a new car with them.  I still wasn't sold on the idea
> > until one night on I-95 south of Petersburg VA, while the roads
> > were covered with about 1" of snow and slush and were very slick.
> The ABS probably is an advantage but I still drive mine as if it does
> not have abs. Occasionally in winter I will hear/feel the slight
> vibration on the brake pedal that tells me it is activating the abs due
> to slipping on ice as I am trying to slow down. Re: traction control, I
> hear that it needs to be turned off if you are in a slow speed, deep
> snow situation. Not personal experience since I don't have anything new
> enough to have traction control.
>
> Ralph in Sask.
> >
>
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