VSC and ABS

Old Jan 24, 2009 | 03:56 AM
  #1  
haroldo's Avatar
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Default VSC and ABS

Dumb question, does the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system:
  1. Incorporate the anti-lock brakes (ABS) system
  2. Replace the ABS system
  3. Act as a separate component from the car's ABS system
Thanks!
 

Last edited by haroldo; Jan 24, 2009 at 03:59 AM.
Old Jan 24, 2009 | 05:35 AM
  #2  
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Default Re: VSC and ABS

Larry,

The VSC system uses the ABS system to selectively brake individual wheels to stop the vehicle from getting out of control. It does use the ABS but in a different way. The ABS system stops the wheels from "locking up" under braking in slippery conditions (snow, wet, gravel, etc.) and will continue to let you steer the car.

The VSC will brake an individual wheel to limit slip angles of the car during turns. If the car has a habit of "over steering" (rear end swings out) or "understeering" (front end plows) under high speed turns, the VSC can help eliminate those problems and let the car drive around a curve for example instead of starting to slide.
 
Old Jan 24, 2009 | 08:41 AM
  #3  
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Default Re: VSC and ABS

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHybrid
Larry,

The VSC system uses the ABS system to selectively brake (or un-brake) individual wheels to stop the vehicle from getting out of control. It does use the ABS but in a different way. The ABS system stops the wheels from "locking up" under braking in slippery (ALL) conditions (snow, wet, gravel, etc.) and will continue to let you steer the car.

The VSC will brake (or un-brake) an individual wheel to limit slip angles of the car during turns. If the car has a habit of "over steering" (rear end swings out) or "understeering" (front end plows) under high speed turns, the VSC (will "attempt" to alleviate) can help eliminate those problems and let the car drive around a curve for example instead of starting to slide.
 

Last edited by wwest; Jan 24, 2009 at 08:43 AM.
Old Jan 24, 2009 | 09:50 AM
  #4  
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Default Re: VSC and ABS

LOL,

Willard,

When I learned to drive we figured out how to modulate the brake pedal to prevent wheel lockup. I have had the ABS help in slippery conditions but never used it "in the dry". You are correct though that ABS will help under all conditions. A skilled driver however can often benefit from the ABS system being turned off under certain extreme conditions as well as turning off the VSC system (gravel or icy conditions come to mind)

The VSC will also brake or un-brake as required to help a driver get a car back under control. It will NOT however protect an idiot from doing something stupid and wrecking their car so you are correct in the "attempt" to alleviate a slide condition before it becomes a problem.

I guess I was trying to keep things as simple as possible as I get accused of giving people too much information at work all of the time....
 
Old Jan 24, 2009 | 10:48 AM
  #5  
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Default Re: VSC and ABS

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHybrid
It will NOT however protect an idiot from doing something stupid and wrecking their car
That statement needs emphasis. Idiots often don't read the fine print.
 
Old Jan 24, 2009 | 12:02 PM
  #6  
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Default Re: VSC and ABS

And I believe, VDIM as as sort of VSC+ on Toyota hybrids adds the electric steering component into the picture by trying to nudge the driver into making less detrimental movements of the steering wheel during times of borderline vehicle stability.
 
Old Jan 24, 2009 | 12:18 PM
  #7  
wwest's Avatar
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Default Re: VSC and ABS

Originally Posted by GeorgiaHybrid
LOL,

Willard,

When I learned to drive we figured out how to modulate the brake pedal to prevent wheel lockup.

In the "olden" days the braking was so heavily biased to the front (mechanical brake proportioning valve) that I often had to use the rear implemented e-brake to effect "light" braking at the rear ("anchoring effect") and thereby not lose control. I also had instances with RWD wherein "light" overall braking would lock the front wheels but with rear braking still light enough that the automatic transmission could still turn the rears even so slowly.

The only answer being to shift the tranny into neutral.

I have had the ABS help in slippery conditions but never used it "in the dry". You are correct though that ABS will help under all conditions.

Well, NO...!

What about the circumstances wherein there is no loss of control threat, no plowing/understearing or skidding/overstearing, and yet ABS activates thereby simply elongating your stopping distance/time.

It is those times, and there are MANY of them, that VSC could be used to hold off ABS unless the vehicle is not following the desired path.

A skilled driver however can often benefit from the ABS system being turned off under certain extreme conditions as well as turning off the VSC system (gravel or icy conditions come to mind)

In my '92 Jeep I would remove the ABS pumpmotor fuse during the summer months. Nowadays with so many other functions dependent on the ABS pumpmotor that is no longer an option. The VSC (PSM) in my '01 911/996 has a few hundred(?) millisecond delay to give me time to react to a yaw condition.

The VSC will also brake or un-brake as required to help a driver get a car back under control. It will NOT however protect an idiot from doing something stupid and wrecking their car so you are correct in the "attempt" to alleviate a slide condition before it becomes a problem.

I guess I was trying to keep things as simple as possible as I get accused of giving people too much information at work all of the time....
At work there is always, ALWAYS, lots of feedback if I get too verbose, but here.....
 

Last edited by wwest; Jan 24, 2009 at 12:21 PM.
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