Vehicle Dynamics Control, On or Off?

wombat

wombat

Forum Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2011
Messages
131
Location
Forster, NSW, Australia
Hi all,

Just found this video on youtube showing a outback doing a very impressive hillclimb:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODN_mhFv8mg"]Subaru Outback 2.5 VTD+VDC Offroad Hill Climb - YouTube[/ame]

Also this video shows it working to free a otherwise stuck car from mud:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKhc1R-_n1A"]Subaru Outback Off Road (VDC IS the best!) - YouTube[/ame]

The videos highlights how effective the VDC system is at cutting power to wheels that are slipping and sending it to wheels that have grip.

My car doesn't have Variable Torque Control like the one in the top video which im sure helps alot too.

This has made me ponder, i always disconnect my VDC when driving on the beach because ive heard the system makes the car a pig in the sand and will get you bogged...
But would it? Wouldn't the VDC help overcome wheels that are stuck and help you get out of a bog easier?
Or am i thinking silly:raz:
 
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after watching this i now find my self asking the same question.
although i dont have vdc still interest me.
like yourself i find myself thinking that any sort of traction control will prohibit off road driving
 
thunder039 said:
after watching this i now find my self asking the same question.
although i dont have vdc still interest me.
like yourself i find myself thinking that any sort of traction control will prohibit off road driving
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Yeah im not sure, im hoping someone with experience on the sand with it on will know, ive had the system engage throwing the car hard into corners on gravel roads before to see how it would react it feels quite weird the car drops power from the accelerator and corrects itself, its like it drives itself for a moment feels quite bizzare.
 
From what ive read and seen yes it can help offroad liek in the videos above.

In sand/beach how ever it can brake wheels and sometimes you want wheen spin. If it brake the wheels while your moving in boggy stuff then of course can cuase you to bog down and get bogged.

I would rather have mechanical LSD's front and rear over traction control but it could come in handy too.
 
taza said:
From what ive read and seen yes it can help offroad liek in the videos above.

In sand/beach how ever it can brake wheels and sometimes you want wheen spin. If it brake the wheels while your moving in boggy stuff then of course can cuase you to bog down and get bogged.

I would rather have mechanical LSD's front and rear over traction control but it could come in handy too.
Click to expand...

In the book i think it says it applies brake pressure to wheels that are spinning and sends power to wheels that have traction to correct the loss of traction, it would probably make sand driving alot worse because it would be sending power all over the place applying brakes trying to get traction and never find any thus resulting in the car bogging down, either way im not game to enable it on the beach to find out.

I really wanna find a steep hill and see how good it goes to make up for lack of low range:ebiggrin:
 
VDC is really useful on hard packed surfaces Aaron. But on loose surfaces such as soft sand, its your worst enemy.

I've deliberately tested it on the sand to conclusively determine how it performs. The result? My right foot wins every time on soft sand!

In contrast, VDC saved the day when I got stuck after sliding backward down a clay based hill (no grip whatsoever) and came to rest on an embankment. Put simply - the VDC system did things no human could do. Admittedly, it was combined with some traction aids I had laid out on the track, but it was still the VDC that did what it needed to do to get me out.



But overall, VDC isn't a substitute for a good set of all terrains. My next investment...
 
Thats a really slippery looking track. Looks very nasty all the way up...VDC sounds like it worked great here!
 
wombat said:
Did you manage to make it up that hill with normal tyres?? Thats pretty dam impressive it looks slippery as ****, i wanna try:)
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Not a chance unfortunately. Trying to get up that hill in the first place is what landed me in that predicament.

I used the X-Trax and VDC to get me forward enough so I could then back out and head on home.

I reckon your car would cruise up that hill no dramas whatsoever :cool:
 
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I dunno it looks really really wet and slippery, i need a set of x-trax or maxtrax.
Off topic but what are the wheels on your car off? I really like them, are they 16 inch?
 
They're 17's off the current gen XT Foz. Gonna wrap them in 225/60 series A/T rubber :)

It was massively slippery. Couldn't stand up without leaning on the car. Ended up chucking my shoes and socks out the next day as they were ruined. Its in a portion of the Watagans which never really dries. We ought to get out there one day and see if anyone can be king of that hill...!
 
Hey Mr T

I assume that if I have an actual VDC fuse in my fuse box, then chances are I have VDC in Roo2.

Is this assumption reasonable?

It seems all too bloody hard to determine exactly what is installed (or not ... ) in any particular vehicle. My Owner's Manual is full of "If Installed".

One day it will be mandatory for car makers to issue a list of all equipment in a particular vehicle. That day cannot come too soon, IMNSHO!
 
Ratbag said:
I assume that if I have an actual VDC fuse in my fuse box, then chances are I have VDC in Roo2.

Is this assumption reasonable?
Click to expand...

That is a fair assumption for sure.
However, I didn't think that your model (shape & year) came with VDC. I thought it only came in the model after yours (IE: current shape) But then I could be wrong in saying that though :cool:

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
mr turbo said:
That is a fair assumption for sure.
However, I didn't think that your model (shape & year) came with VDC. I thought it only came in the model after yours (IE: current shape)
Click to expand...
I'm fairly certain your correct there. In Australia, only the current shape Foresters were made available with VDC.

One thing your generation Forester did come available with is EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution).
 
Thanks Mr T

Ratbag said:
Hey Mr T

I assume that if I have an actual VDC fuse in my fuse box, then chances are I have VDC in Roo2.

Is this assumption reasonable?
Click to expand...


mr turbo said:
That is a fair assumption for sure.
However, I didn't think that your model (shape & year) came with VDC. I thought it only came in the model after yours (IE: current shape) But then I could be wrong in saying that though :cool:

Regards
Mr Turbo
Click to expand...

Yeah, I thought it didn't either.
But out buying some spare fuses today (OF COURSE, the bloody thing takes a 'mini-blade' fuse; and I have bucket loads of standard blade fuses ... ); and happened to notice the flaming great fuse/relay for VDC, and it struck me as odd. Usually if something isn't there, it indicates that it isn't fitted, and vice versa.

Very strange! :surprised: :confused: :shrug:
 
Ratbag said:
Thanks Mr T






Yeah, I thought it didn't either.
But out buying some spare fuses today (OF COURSE, the bloody thing takes a 'mini-blade' fuse; and I have bucket loads of standard blade fuses ... ); and happened to notice the flaming great fuse/relay for VDC, and it struck me as odd. Usually if something isn't there, it indicates that it isn't fitted, and vice versa.

Very strange! :surprised: :confused: :shrug:
Click to expand...
If it helps you find out, when i start my car i have a VDC light, a VDC off light and a car doing a skid mark symbol light on my dash for a few seconds then they turn off indicating the system is functioning.
 
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