Adjustable traction control - World First

[Bubu]

I got given a copy of FastFours magazine, August issue.

Apparently Whitline have come up with a device that allows you to adjust the stability control on your car. The device which they call the 'Black Box', enables the driver to adjust to give more oversteer or understeer. It is reported that this aftermarket device is a world first.

At the time the magazine went to print, the Black Box was only available for a Astra SRi and Nissan 350Z.

Just imagine the possibilities of fine tuning how your car handles when you have ESP set ON.

[Treza360]

Not sure how this will work and how they've managed to get into the traction control system. Not sure what those two specific cars use but from what I've read the Bosch systems seem to be the most popular.
I don't know that anyone in the industry will like this that much as I think it could be quite dangerous in the wrong hands. I also think that insurers will basically have it as a big no no due to the fact that you're essentially playing with a safety device. It's almost like playing with the airbag sensitivity, just something you don't want to do.
The easiest thing as always is just to turn it off.
Cheers,
Trent

[Bubu]

You make some very interesting points there.

I am not sure if you can turn off stability control on all cars, although you can in my Polo GTI. The next best thing to tuning it off would be to have some control over it.

This is what it looks like:

http://www.whiteline.com.au/docs/bulletins/152_HBM.pdf

[graeme86]

This is why mankind will never achieve greatness...too many lawyers.

[qsilverza]

You cant turn the ESP off fully in my Bora

[balkanac]

You cant turn the ESP off fully in my Bora

same as on my car. It would be nice if i could control oversteer and understeer on my car. R32s are not balanced and they understeer so if this thing could correct it, i'd get it straight away

[Mr Messy]

Oversteer on demand:
350Z = throttle
Commodore SS = throttle
Astra = handbrake

Understeer on demand:
350Z = brake
Commodore SS = steering wheel
Astra = throttle

Do we need this? Plus I reckon Lotus' analogue traction control is more of a world first than this thing... though it will be funny watching Astra drivers going for ''oversteer on demand''....

[Jarred]

I had adjustable traction control in my old mk 1.

[velly_16v_cab]

sounds more like an electronic diff the Traction control

my mate had a traction control device on his mk4. he could adjust it as he drove.
I cant think of the name of it but i will look it up...but i am guess what they are taking about here is about more advance than just TC

[DeanB]

It's pointless for "normal" driving. You either have it on or off, the average fool who drives around the streets wanting to race everyone in their ricer isn't going to have a clue how it should be set-up properly and are just going to get themselves into trouble ... these devices are good in the right hands - race teams - not for the idiots who want to tinker for fun and show the bro's what he can do.

[graeme86]

same as on my car. It would be nice if i could control oversteer and understeer on my car. R32s are not balanced and they understeer so if this thing could correct it, i'd get it straight away

Do you have an uprated Haldex controller fitted?

That will get rid of that "understeer" straight away.

[mikepologti]

it will be interesting how this effects the overall dynamics of the car, its one thing to have a lil more options for the control of your car, its entirly another to have it hands reach of children, partners and (probably the most dangerous) mates who feel theyll play a practicle joke by stuffing with stability controls. at least when you turn off the ecs in a polo theres a nice big orange light on the hud to tell you/ warn you. where are the safety protocols for this product?at the very least make it idiot proof with options on how you want your car to handle traction control, and for the love of god put a pin number access on it so nobody stuffs with it, before you go for another spirited drive into a lamp post.