Tom O'Donnell
04-05-2007, 01:09 PM
Test drove a Patriot with the wife and priced out a FDII model with dealer who seems willing to deal. However, I am still working on the Missues to pull the trigger. But it is never too early to think about modding, right?
My question is, would adding a helical geared limited slip differential in front and back provide any benefit to the brake traction control system? Is this a worthwhile modification or is it redundant and a waste of money? Or even worse, would it interfere with the Traction Contol or even the ESP?
I feel compelled, though, to provide an honest assessment in how the vehicle will be used. It will be first and foremost a daily driver, 99 percent of its time will be on road. But my thinking is that if I am going to drive a vehicle badged as a Jeep, it should be as close to a Jeep as possible but without sacrificing anything from its on road duties.
I am looking to improve its capabilites for the times when I would need it. My real world, living-in-Pittsburgh examples include getting back to a cabin in the woods my buddy owns (which will also provide opportunity for some offroading fun on his property), driving out of snowy ditch, or a split traction surface situation as when trying to get into or out of a parallel parking spot on a hill after a heavy snowfall, or driving uphill where the right wheels encounter water runoff that has frozen but the left side wheels remain on dry pavement.
Again, keeping with the Daily Driver mission, my thoughts are that a helical gear LSD would be a reliable (no real parts to wear out) compromise to, say, some of the more rugged offroad stuff like lockers. I just want to increase my chances that all 4 wheels get "drive" (left to right, front to back) during the situations when you would truly need it. But if it provides no real added benefit to the Offroad BraKe Traction Control or if it adversely affects the ESP or other electronics, I wouldn't want to do it.
I appreciate any thoughts on the matter. Thanks.
My question is, would adding a helical geared limited slip differential in front and back provide any benefit to the brake traction control system? Is this a worthwhile modification or is it redundant and a waste of money? Or even worse, would it interfere with the Traction Contol or even the ESP?
I feel compelled, though, to provide an honest assessment in how the vehicle will be used. It will be first and foremost a daily driver, 99 percent of its time will be on road. But my thinking is that if I am going to drive a vehicle badged as a Jeep, it should be as close to a Jeep as possible but without sacrificing anything from its on road duties.
I am looking to improve its capabilites for the times when I would need it. My real world, living-in-Pittsburgh examples include getting back to a cabin in the woods my buddy owns (which will also provide opportunity for some offroading fun on his property), driving out of snowy ditch, or a split traction surface situation as when trying to get into or out of a parallel parking spot on a hill after a heavy snowfall, or driving uphill where the right wheels encounter water runoff that has frozen but the left side wheels remain on dry pavement.
Again, keeping with the Daily Driver mission, my thoughts are that a helical gear LSD would be a reliable (no real parts to wear out) compromise to, say, some of the more rugged offroad stuff like lockers. I just want to increase my chances that all 4 wheels get "drive" (left to right, front to back) during the situations when you would truly need it. But if it provides no real added benefit to the Offroad BraKe Traction Control or if it adversely affects the ESP or other electronics, I wouldn't want to do it.
I appreciate any thoughts on the matter. Thanks.