Member Since: 09 Mar 2016
Location: kent seaside
Posts: 176
D4 , snow and ABS
chaps
having driven my D4 in the snow im wondering if its possible to turn off the ABS at all to aid braking.. grip and go isn't an issue but i nearly SH**T myself when i tried to stop!
it was in the snow special setting but it didn't help with braking.www.southeast4x4response.org.uk Responder of 9 years service SE140
Ex defender 50th owner, GB165
2010 MY XS -sold
2014 MY HSE Lux curent
2017 MY Disco Sport (wife's)
" if it fly's, floats, is fast or fornicates you can't afford it my boy" RIP Gramps 2009
29th Nov 2017 4:01 pm
adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
Don't think you can overcome the laws of physics
In the last big snowfall of 2010 mine did a great impression of a near 3 ton torpedo as it slammed into my parents hedge when I braked and the car decided it didn't want to stop
29th Nov 2017 4:33 pm
Jubbly
Member Since: 20 Nov 2016
Location: Stourbridge
Posts: 401
thats why winter tyres are good, even for the uk, stopping distance in snow/cold are reduced. Jaguar I-Pace HSE imminent.
Gone HSE with Flappy Paddles. IID BT tool. RLD Spare Protector, Altox GPS.
29th Nov 2017 4:42 pm
lespes
Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: Sitting Down
Posts: 2232
ABS cannot be turned off D4 Landmark MY16 Santorini Black THE LAST
D4 HSE MY12 Marmais Teal: Gone. Missed a lot!
Freelander 2 SD HSE MY11 Silver:Thankfully gone.
D4 HSE MY11 Silver: Gone missed !
Range Rover Sport MY06 HSE Buck Blue: Gone missed!
Discovery D2 TD5 Facelift MY Red Gone Missed!
Discovery D2 TD5 Cobalt Blue: Gone Missed!
Discovery D1 Auto Oxford Blue Not missed at all!
Discovery D1 Avalon Blue First LR! missed!
Now demoted to a VW
29th Nov 2017 5:52 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
I'm with Adam on this. All cars have 4 wheel stop! If the roads slippy, it's going to take longer.
The Discos only trick is HDC, which is very effective at slowing the car on an icy hill if the laws of physics allow.
HDC on, let the system take you down the hill, keep foot off the accelerator, cover the brake. Control your speed with the cruise control speed up/down button on the steering wheel. Press the speed minus button until car is almost stopped, then apply foot brake to bring to final halt. However, if it is real sheet ice, even this will turn your car into a 3 ton runaway. If it does runaway, at least the wheels will be turning, giving you some degree of directional control until you either arrest the skid, or hit something.
The last thing you want is locked wheels, as the car will just skid straight, no matter what your steering input is.
29th Nov 2017 6:30 pm
Philip1972
Member Since: 10 Mar 2017
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1072
I think what jamesSE4x4R is getting at is there is a point where the locked-up wheels can create a wedge of snow in front of them that can slow you down better ... not sure I'd like to be in a position where that is what I'm relying on, given few of us will get opportunity to practice this art.
29th Nov 2017 7:22 pm
stick
Member Since: 13 Jan 2010
Location: hants
Posts: 592
would add to Gareth's comments, if the hill is really icy, then select low range before you start, will hold you at lower speed. First gear might be too slow and run risk of sliding away so use 2nd. It is still possible for all 4 to lock up, if you start to slide, give it a few revs to get all the wheels turning again before taking foot off and hoping car can do its stuff.....
...new trousers not compulsory...mine has taken me down hills in Switzerland (with winter tyres) that I absolutely could not stand on.
OP was more about stopping in normal driving. Try a few slowing manoeuvres where there is nothing to hit so you can assess your tyres and grip, and then go slow if there might be any reason to stop. Discovery's are great at starting and driving with GGS, it is stopping a 3t sledge that is the worry.d4 HSE
29th Nov 2017 7:45 pm
jamesSE4x4R
Member Since: 09 Mar 2016
Location: kent seaside
Posts: 176
Chaps, to clarify
The vehicle is running all weather durartrac's ( with the snowflake and mountain symbol )
I am well aware of the laws of physics, I was an ARDS instructor for many years and taught driving dynamics for BMW, Caterham, Vauxhall and many others so I am well versed to the effects of weight distribution and point loading in limited traction conditions.
As one of you has pointed out in certain circumstances locking up the wheels does cause a wedge of snow infront of the tyre that aids braking but my real issue with the D4 is that even if one wheel looses traction and locks up the electronic response is to give me the abs "fart", the pedal goes soft and to the floor and from there on in you become a passenger..
I have owned lots of defenders, a D1, D2 and dare I say it several japanese off roaders so again im well used to how they all perform in the snow HOWEVER the D4 is by far and away the best at getting through snow but at the same time by far and away the worst at stopping in it!
To my shame I have never played with the HDC, ive always used low box if required which has been sufficient but I would have thought selecting snow on the TR system would have tamed the overly aggressive ABS..www.southeast4x4response.org.uk Responder of 9 years service SE140
Ex defender 50th owner, GB165
2010 MY XS -sold
2014 MY HSE Lux curent
2017 MY Disco Sport (wife's)
" if it fly's, floats, is fast or fornicates you can't afford it my boy" RIP Gramps 2009
30th Nov 2017 11:13 am
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10297
and has been said, engage HDC before going own the hill, not as I tried a couple of years back once halfway down, as the HDC speed was below what I was traveling at by then it locked the wheels for a second in trying to slow me down, which produced a slide. Defo brown trousers job.
AlVolvo XC90 B5 Plus Dark
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30th Nov 2017 12:28 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
I've never tried it in snow, but perhaps if you turn off the DSC it would moderate the abs? It certainly moderates the tc in muddy conditions and allows a lot more energetic progress through tricky conditions.
30th Nov 2017 2:58 pm
lespes
Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: Sitting Down
Posts: 2232
Duratracs may have snowflake symbol and perform well in snow but........ not that great in icy conditions.
Driving in manual mode using flappy paddles gives a little more engine braking.
Pretty certain from memory that HDC is automatically engaged when in snow modeD4 Landmark MY16 Santorini Black THE LAST
D4 HSE MY12 Marmais Teal: Gone. Missed a lot!
Freelander 2 SD HSE MY11 Silver:Thankfully gone.
D4 HSE MY11 Silver: Gone missed !
Range Rover Sport MY06 HSE Buck Blue: Gone missed!
Discovery D2 TD5 Facelift MY Red Gone Missed!
Discovery D2 TD5 Cobalt Blue: Gone Missed!
Discovery D1 Auto Oxford Blue Not missed at all!
Discovery D1 Avalon Blue First LR! missed!
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