Traction Control vs LSD

50Twuncle

My new car has (switchable) Traction Control - I take it that this (together with ABS) will aid driving on icy roads and produces a similar result to Limited Slip Diffs ?

maninthestreet

ESP is more effective than an LSD.

50Twuncle

Will it aid driving on ice though ?
As far as I am aware, if one wheel starts slipping, more torque is sent to the other wheel - but what if both wheels are slipping >>>>??

Ebe_Scrooge

One thing to be aware of, TC is a right PITA in snow and ice - that's why it gives you the option to switch it off. My old car has TC but no option to turn it off. What it does is, when it detects the wheel is spinning, it cuts power to that wheel. Great for everyday driving when it can aid stability. But when you're trying to inch along at 2 mph on solid ice from a standstill, you're stuck - TC detects that the wheel is trying to spin, so "no power for you, me laddo" - on both driven wheels. Result - you sit there with the engine labouring away, going nowhere fast. I ended up pulling the fuse out to disable the TC :-)

Last winter I helped push a car that was struggling, told the bloke to turn off his TC, he said he always wondered what that button was for :-) Hey presto, wheels spin but at least you can make a bit of headway.

<Edit> cross-posted with Twinkle, but he/she has hit the nail on the head, it's a bloomin' liability in heavy snow / ice !

gilbert_and_sullivan

Totally different.

TC will depending on the system brake a drive wheel that is spinning, if that isn't enough it will cut engine power until grip is restored.
On icy roads it may help to keep you out of trouble, but you may have to turn it off if you get stuck as it will cut the power constantly as it detects slippage.

LSD has nothing to do with engine management or braking.
It's to help prevent one drive wheel spinning away whilst the other does nothing, usually found on performance cars and good off roaders.

In ice and snow LSD will help provide power to both drive wheels so you should get traction down better, but it can have disadvantages for unskilled drivers, with both wheels spinning the chances of a spin out if RWD or traversing the road with unchecked torque steer if FWD are greater.
With RWD if one wheel is spinning the other wheel will usually be just rolling and keep the line, if both wheels are spinning as with LSD on a slippery surface the vehicle will pivot on it's front wheels.

I prefer LSD, but care must be taken, it is not anything like traction control in slippery conditions.

Hammyman

21Twinkle wrote: »

Will it aid driving on ice though ?
As far as I am aware, if one wheel starts slipping, more torque is sent to the other wheel - but what if both wheels are slipping >>>>??

If you are useless at driving in snow and ice, it won't magically make you able to. The wagons I drove with it fitted, it was more of a hindrance in snow and ice than a benefit. What was a benefit was locking differentials.

It will work best with a set of winter tyres.

lindopski_2

I wouldnt touch LSD unless you are thinking about chasing a giant range rover made out of blamonge over hills that wobble like jelly and sprout rainbow flowers.
:rotfl:

Biketrials08

An abstract view is: TC etc reduce power, whilst an LSD redistributes power. Which is better in snow, err, not sure - I'd take the former. If it snows this year I'll take the motor out with the LSD to see what it's like.

ridethelightning

Just take the LSD and fly home.... Thats what I do and everything is just peachy.
.

. . . ............

............... ............ . . .

flang

My Z3 has both LSD and switchable TC. RWD if useless in the snow anyway but with TC switched on the car wont move despite putting the pedal to the floor. Turn the TC off and off you spin, the LSD helps a lot if one wheel has traction and the other doesn't.
My old e36 without TC or LSD just puts all power to the slipping wheel.

thescouselander

Actually I really icy conditions I find it better to switch the traction control off - at least to get moving anyway. If you are trying to start off sometimes its better to let the wheels spin, then the TC is on it will either apply the brakes to the driven wheels or make the engine misfire, neither of which is going to help you.