Do I need traction control?

[ABD Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ABD]

Getting Traction control is a no brainer!

Read from the NRMA website.
http://tinyurl.com/29raq3
The important paragraph reads

"Mercedes-Benz research has shown that its cars, equipped with stability control, were involved in 42 per cent fewer driver error related crashes in 2002-2003, compared with the period 1998-1999. "

We were looking at paying $10K more to get a VX
On the vechicle we have ordered Option Pack 1 Costs $2455

[SSbaby Member Find all posts View Profile Close SSbaby]

For my own education, what value does TC provide over 4WD traction?

Reading some of the posts here, it seems some people confuse TC with stability control (SC).

From my understanding, once ABS systems are in place, implementing TC and SC systems is easy-peasy. It costs the manufacturer relatively little to implement as the sensors are in place.

My understanding was that 4WD was the mechanical equivalent of TC, which is an electronic way of apportioning drive to the wheels with the most amount of grip.

So how does the 'no brainer' TC system offer advantages over and above that of the current 4WD technology?

Note: TC is not to be confused with SC which is a system in itself!!!

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

For my own education, what value does TC provide over 4WD traction?

Simply that in a normal Prado which the centre diff is locked, if a front wheel was to lift, all drive is lost to the front pair of wheels & the same goes for the rear, but traction will be lost at the rear. With TC, it will apply the brake to the lifted wheel, thus directing some torque to the wheel still on the ground.

There are 4 main stages of 4WD control...to loose traction I have also listed how many wheels need to lift or loose traction before all traction is lost.

• Constant 4WD - as the prado is normally on road (1)
  Locked center Diff (2)
  Traction Control (4 - with a good system)
  Locked Front & Rear Diffs (4)

Reading some of the posts here, it seems some people confuse TC with stability control (SC).

Yes, they do. Both work very similarily...but for different goals. Usually Stability control is for use at speed, traction control is for use at a crawl (& for getting off the mark quickly)

From my understanding, once ABS systems are in place, implementing TC and SC systems is easy-peasy. It costs the manufacturer relatively little to implement as the sensors are in place.

Yep, the only extra is the software component & research....but I guess at the moment they can ask a premium for it.

My understanding was that 4WD was the mechanical equivalent of TC, which is an electronic way of apportioning drive to the wheels with the most amount of grip.

Almost....In fact TC would be better than a standard Prado, but perhaps not as good as a Prado with front & rear lockers. Of course the fully locked prado would be a pain to make a tight turn, but the TC car would probably be OK in this situation. I guess the key is TC is automatic & lockers would be manual control. Personal preference would come into play then.

So how does the 'no brainer' TC system offer advantages over and above that of the current 4WD technology?

Like the new cruiser TC system....? Just means people are less likely to stuff it up. If you take the human element out of it, 90% of the time you will be better off, especially for the less experienced off roader. Why is the Prado a constant 4WD anyway?

Cheers
Richard

[LiveFreeAndRoam Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LiveFreeAndRoam]

Terrific write-up Richard!

From my understanding, once ABS systems are in place, implementing TC and SC systems is easy-peasy. It costs the manufacturer relatively little to implement as the sensors are in place.

Yep, the only extra is the software component & research....but I guess at the moment they can ask a premium for it.

Are you saying that there is no additional hardware required to enable TC in a Prado with ABS? Is it really just a software hack?

LFaR.

[mototrim Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close mototrim]

If you take the human element out of it, 90% of the time you will be better off, especially for the less experienced off roader. Why is the Prado a constant 4WD anyway?

Great explanation richard and wouldnt it be great if that theory could be put in to action for buying cars as well (take the human element out) :lol: :lol:

[SSbaby Member Find all posts View Profile Close SSbaby]

Thanks for the very informative answer, Richard. :wink:

That's the explanation I was after in my dialog with vxprado. :lol:

I know how TC is a 'no brainer' for sedans like my car but wasn't sure of the advantage(s) for full time 4WD vehicles. Wasn't sure if the Prado had lockers either.

Cheers 8)

[StormyKnight Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close StormyKnight]

Are you saying that there is no additional hardware required to enable TC in a Prado with ABS? Is it really just a software hack?

No not exactly.
The hardware required to do the job in its basic form is there. ABS Sensors & Brakes. Whether that hardware could be simply connected to the computer which has the additional software required for Traction control is another thing. There may be differences in the actual hardware design required such as quicker brake activation or better brake control, but not so much in the costs involved I wouldn't have thought.

Additioanlly, the actual computer hardware may need to be upgraded to handle the extra software & also it may need to sample the data faster than a simple ABS system does.

So in summary, whilst the basics of the hardware is there, I suspect that it would need to be upgraded to permit TC to work effectively. My real point is that they could have the same hardware across all models & just not enable the TC software for the base models - simply as a marketing tool. They may already be doing this. In time it will be across the board.

Cheers
Richard