VSC = type of limited slip?

cpayne5 said:
When in 2wd with stock tires, the traction control is aweful. Basically, if neither tire has 'traction' it will cut engine power. You can have the pedal on the floor and it will just idle with no wheel spin.

Again, this is a VSC issue not traction control (ATRAC). Not saying it's not frustrating, but with VSC turned off and ATRAC on - which it always is - this would not happen.
 
JB. said:
Again, this is a VSC issue not traction control (ATRAC). Not saying it's not frustrating, but with VSC turned off and ATRAC on - which it always is - this would not happen.

Poor choice of words on my part, I suppose.

I never said that it couldn't be avoided - just that it *could* happen.

In any event, I wish there was a way to cut off VSC in 2wd on a 4wd vehicle.
 
cpayne5 said:
In any event, I wish there was a way to cut off VSC in 2wd on a 4wd vehicle.

Yeah, that would be great even if the button just shut it off for a short time and then it defaulted back to on.
 
Viva! said:
Here's my thoughts,

If I had one of my previous cars w/ rwd and lsd, I would have had no issue.


Every snow situation is different, depending on all the variables. The only way you could support your opinion is to have the two vehicles side by side. There will be situations with very little snow when traction will be poor no matter what vehicle you are in. Also do you have Dunflops on your 4Runner? They could cause different results (poor results) on the same traction situation as any other tires.

After several different poor traction situations I have experienced with the 4th gen, I prefer it over limited slip or posi-lock systems.

Koz
 
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cpayne5 said:
I can vouch for him in this situation. When in 2wd with stock tires, the traction control is aweful. Basically, if neither tire has 'traction' it will cut engine power. You can have the pedal on the floor and it will just idle with no wheel spin. I hate it. I haven't encountered this problem since I got my new tires, though.

I can understand that , I wish there was a way to turn the Traction control off. The only way that I know to turn it all of is by locking the center diff. I have Full Time 4x4.
 
Koz said:
Every snow situation is different, depending on all the variables. The only way you could support your opinion is to have the two vehicles side by side. There will situations with very little snow when traction will be poor no matter what vehicle you are in. Also do you have Dunflops on your 4Runner? They could cause different results (poor results) on the same traction situation as any other tires.

After several different poor traction situations I have experienced with the 4th gen, I prefer it over limited slip or posi-lock systems.

Koz

That's because you have a FOUR WHEEL DRIVE 4Runner...

Those of us that have TWO wheel drive 4Runners are traction-challenged and NEED a true limited-slip differential. The electronic 'wannabe' traction system is poor, at best.

There has been one instance where I was playing around on some dirt hills and had the 4Runner with my right front tire up on a good hill with the rest of the 4Runner on flat ground (the right rear wheel had articulated almost to its limit of travel, but was still on the ground), and after I drove up onto this hill, I could not back off of it. If I had a limited-slip that would have transferred even 20% of my torque to the other side, I would have had NO problem getting off of the hill. Instead, I had to have my wife get in the driver's seat and put it in reverse while I PUSHED it off of the hill. It was a pain in the butt.

Ricky
 
RickyCRX said:
That's because you have a FOUR WHEEL DRIVE 4Runner...

Those of us that have TWO wheel drive 4Runners are traction-challenged and NEED a true limited-slip differential. The electronic 'wannabe' traction system is poor, at best.

There has been one instance where I was playing around on some dirt hills and had the 4Runner with my right front tire up on a good hill with the rest of the 4Runner on flat ground (the right rear wheel had articulated almost to its limit of travel, but was still on the ground), and after I drove up onto this hill, I could not back off of it. If I had a limited-slip that would have transferred even 20% of my torque to the other side, I would have had NO problem getting off of the hill. Instead, I had to have my wife get in the driver's seat and put it in reverse while I PUSHED it off of the hill. It was a pain in the butt.

Ricky

Did you turn off VSC?
 
The poor mans LSD would have definitely gotten you out of that situation: using the brake pedal or parking brake to help transfer torque to the wheel that has traction.
 
The Real Reason...

ok... I think the real reason is torque.

I think the increased torque created by the V8 would put too much stress on the rear axle if delivered to the rear axle alone.

Splitting the power between front and rear axle also prevents wheelspin from the additional torque.

Plus, you guys are right... V8 + AWD=luxury
 
Re: The Real Reason...

lowrange said:
ok... I think the real reason is torque.

I think the increased torque created by the V8 would put too much stress on the rear axle if delivered to the rear axle alone.

Splitting the power between front and rear axle also prevents wheelspin from the additional torque.

Plus, you guys are right... V8 + AWD=luxury

You've got to be kidding, right??? If you have an engine with a given amount of horsepower and torque, you engineer the rest of the drivetrain to handle the power. Do you see Corvette Z06s or Vipers having problems with limited-slip differentials with 400-500+hp and just as much torque?? No.

And your luxury comment makes the rest of what you said sound even more absurd. What does the number of cylinders and drivetrain configuration have to do with whether or not something is a luxury vehicle?? The majority of the luxury vehicles on the planet are 2WD. Think about high-end BMW's....Acura TL's, RL (until recently), Lexus GS, LS, and IS series vehicles....the list goes on... Most are FWD or RWD, not AWD.

Oh, and my 2WD 4Runner has no problems handling "all the power" of the V8 at the rear axle.

Ricky
 
TeCKis300 said:
The poor mans LSD would have definitely gotten you out of that situation: using the brake pedal or parking brake to help transfer torque to the wheel that has traction.

The electronic version of the 'poor man's LSD' didn't help in the situation I was in.

Ricky
 
It looks like lowrange was trying to respond to the post about why 4x4 V8s do not have a 2WD option. However, your mentioning of the fact that your 2WD has a V8 debunks his theory.
 
ok... rickycrx: apparently my post got mixed up... I was replying to the thread that was discussing why the V8 4x4 is only available in awd.

I didn't realize there was a V8 2wd available, so obviously my "torque" theory regarding awd vs part-time is not correct.

I was not commenting on lsd.

many in the other thread already commented that the 4x4 V8 is awd for the "luxury" buyer who can't be bothered flipping levers/switches.

I do remember reading somewhere that part of the reason trd stopped making the v8 supercharger was drivetrain durability. I can't remember where I read it, so I can't confirm if its acurate or not.
 
I don't think drive-train is an issue with the V8 or even a supercharger, especially the rear diff. We're not talking about 500hp. 260 hp is nothing for this drive-train.

Koz
 
cpayne5 had it correct. I mashed the petal and all or one of the acronym systems prevented the engine from going over idle speed due to the limitation in traction at the rear wheels.

Yes I have the Dunflops, and yes, I have 4wd, which got me out of the situation. I'm not sure which of the acronyms had me stuck, only that with an old school posi style lsd, my old BMW never would have gotten stuck. Perhaps I would have had to spin the wheels a la the Dukes of Hazzard, but I would have gotten out.

My prevoius car had a system like the 4Runner, but with a switch to turn it off. There were many times that the computer had me stuck, and turing it off got me going.

I know, I know, get rid of the tires and use 4wd, thats what it is there for. I guess I just hate having "Hal 2000" take away so much of the fun and or technique of driving in challenging situations.
 
Viva! said:
cpayne5 had it correct. I mashed the petal and all or one of the acronym systems prevented the engine from going over idle speed due to the limitation in traction at the rear wheels.

Yes I have the Dunflops, and yes, I have 4wd, which got me out of the situation. I'm not sure which of the acronyms had me stuck, only that with an old school posi style lsd, my old BMW never would have gotten stuck. Perhaps I would have had to spin the wheels a la the Dukes of Hazzard, but I would have gotten out.

My prevoius car had a system like the 4Runner, but with a switch to turn it off. There were many times that the computer had me stuck, and turing it off got me going.

I know, I know, get rid of the tires and use 4wd, thats what it is there for. I guess I just hate having "Hal 2000" take away so much of the fun and or technique of driving in challenging situations.

You will find that if you lock the center diff the VSC will be disabled, the ABS will be less sensitive and there will be a difference in that situation. Without doing this all the systems are doing their job the way they were designed. After time and the use of these systems you will find that they do work very well. You will also know when to use and not use different systems to your advantage. At first I was frustrated with the interference of some of the systems in certain situations. The one thing you have to understand is that sometimes regardless of what equipment or vehicle you have there will be situations/conditions that NOTHING will help! I can tell you that sometimes being very aggressive with the throttle will hinder traction in some situation.

Koz
 

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