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What to do if...
- Thread starter Rip3z
- Start date
aparantly dip the clutch (this helps 2 slow u down wivout skiding) and steer in2 the skid - so if ur bk end swings out 2 the right u steer 2 the right....thats iirc
wen it happend 2 me though i just froze! then i startd jabing the brake pedal and steered in2 the skid at the last minute just in time 2 stop me mounting an irland lol
wen it happend 2 me though i just froze! then i startd jabing the brake pedal and steered in2 the skid at the last minute just in time 2 stop me mounting an irland lol
A good way to practise loosing your back end and controlling it is to find a large empty car park when it is icy/covered in snow and play around doing a few handbrake turns. You can try using opposite lock, etc so that if you should be unlucky enough to lose your back end in a real situation, you might not panic as much!!
It is an inbuilt reaction to steer into it though (generally speaking). I remember a bloke in Performance Car or something letting his 3 or 4 year old steer while he did the handbrake thing in a carpark and apparently the kid steered into it! lol
Lots of Alfas
Rip3z said:
This is the normal reaction, slamming the brakes on and giving opposite lock when the back end goes makes it swing the other way and losing control (depending on how fast the car is going). I think the best thing to do is gently steer into it and apply throttle (except on rwd cars) to pull the front end into control. It all depends on road,car and the situation though.
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The best way, according to the skid pan insructors at Knockhill is to hit the clutch and steer into it, its more realiable than trying to power out of it. In an understeer skid you dip the clutch and take some lock off, dont add more in. Having done the course I can tell you the instructors were right!
Rip3z said:
oposite lock is when the bk ends slides out 2 the right so u turn 2 the right.....if u think about it, ur front end will be pointin 2 the left if ur bk end is slidin 2 the right, so if u steer the same way as ur bk end its the oposite 2 wot ur front end will doin!....sum1 else wil lprob b able 2 explain betta but i kno wot i mean lol
also dont steer in2 it 2 sharply or u might start a fish tailing motion!
You need to remember how the car acts under braking/ accelerating etc also what sort of setup the car has LSD etc etc,
For a FWD car to stop it spinning you need to do 1 of 2 things, Either get traction on the back or Correct the steering direction. Ideally both.
By hitting the brakes you take weight off the back and make it easier for it to spin round as you will be reducing any traction that is on the rear wheels also by braking hard you may lock the front wheels up this prevents you from steering stopping you from correcting the cars direction. The back end is moving in a different direction to the front if you stop the front the wheels acts like a pivot for the rest of the car to spin round.
The best way is stop it is to keep the power on (Dont just floor it though you need a some but not all the power) this will a keep the front wheels turning allowing you to steer and correct whilst keeping some weight on the rear wheels and helping it to get traction to the back. Remember power comes from the front and because of that the rear wheels are being dragged (rather than pushed if RWD) and you need to pull them into shape by accelerating. When correcting its easy to over correct and come spinning off in the other direction. Your actions need to be positive but not harsh.
With a RWD car things change, If the back end starts to go you need to come off the power Gradually. Sudden change in power Ie. Dipping the clutch or lifting right of the throttle or hitting the brakes are BAD and you will either continue to spin or more likely snap back in voliently and then it starts to spin in the other direction (Fishtailling). Again by adding more power you will only increase the spin speed and swing round more aggressively. In RWD the wheels are being pushed out of line and you need to stop pushing them in the wrong direction.
If you have a LSD (in either FWD or RWD) then the same things happen but to a lesser degree making controlling it a little easier.
For example I have a RWD Lotus Sunbeam, Very Powerful and very lively and with the LSD very controllable. When the Ass comes out in that, If I squeeze the throttle down (accelerate) it will come further and further out of line until it spins, If I snap off the power then it fishtails If I hold it where it is it will drive sideways and once everything is balance it will straighten itself out, But you dont always have the luxury of time to do this so you need to encourage it by gradually coming off the power and steering into the slide.
For a FWD car to stop it spinning you need to do 1 of 2 things, Either get traction on the back or Correct the steering direction. Ideally both.
By hitting the brakes you take weight off the back and make it easier for it to spin round as you will be reducing any traction that is on the rear wheels also by braking hard you may lock the front wheels up this prevents you from steering stopping you from correcting the cars direction. The back end is moving in a different direction to the front if you stop the front the wheels acts like a pivot for the rest of the car to spin round.
The best way is stop it is to keep the power on (Dont just floor it though you need a some but not all the power) this will a keep the front wheels turning allowing you to steer and correct whilst keeping some weight on the rear wheels and helping it to get traction to the back. Remember power comes from the front and because of that the rear wheels are being dragged (rather than pushed if RWD) and you need to pull them into shape by accelerating. When correcting its easy to over correct and come spinning off in the other direction. Your actions need to be positive but not harsh.
With a RWD car things change, If the back end starts to go you need to come off the power Gradually. Sudden change in power Ie. Dipping the clutch or lifting right of the throttle or hitting the brakes are BAD and you will either continue to spin or more likely snap back in voliently and then it starts to spin in the other direction (Fishtailling). Again by adding more power you will only increase the spin speed and swing round more aggressively. In RWD the wheels are being pushed out of line and you need to stop pushing them in the wrong direction.
If you have a LSD (in either FWD or RWD) then the same things happen but to a lesser degree making controlling it a little easier.
For example I have a RWD Lotus Sunbeam, Very Powerful and very lively and with the LSD very controllable. When the Ass comes out in that, If I squeeze the throttle down (accelerate) it will come further and further out of line until it spins, If I snap off the power then it fishtails If I hold it where it is it will drive sideways and once everything is balance it will straighten itself out, But you dont always have the luxury of time to do this so you need to encourage it by gradually coming off the power and steering into the slide.
^^ wow CrazyK, that is some writing and a nice explanation!
As others have said, the best thing is to go to a nice open play ground and trying various things.
The most stylish is steering in (opposite lock) but on a slippery cold undulating tight road could end in disaster.
Personally, I have got used to quickly releasing the revs but watch for a bit of tank slapping
Just take care as our little FWD pocket skuds can take you by surprise.
They are rare and appreciated little cars, but we don't want an U shaped cars please!!
As others have said, the best thing is to go to a nice open play ground and trying various things.
The most stylish is steering in (opposite lock) but on a slippery cold undulating tight road could end in disaster.
Personally, I have got used to quickly releasing the revs but watch for a bit of tank slapping
Just take care as our little FWD pocket skuds can take you by surprise.
They are rare and appreciated little cars, but we don't want an U shaped cars please!!
MarkCup
ClioSport Club Member
^^^ agree - definitely need throttle as well.
Steer into it, and get on the gas smoothly...but HARD.
If the backs coming round, the car isn't balanced i.e too much weight at the front, not enough at the rear.
Steering the front into it will slow how much the back comes round but you are still out of balance.
Getting hard on the gas helps by driving the front further into the skid and also shifting a bit of weight rearwards to help regain balance and traction.
Steer into it, and get on the gas smoothly...but HARD.
If the backs coming round, the car isn't balanced i.e too much weight at the front, not enough at the rear.
Steering the front into it will slow how much the back comes round but you are still out of balance.
Getting hard on the gas helps by driving the front further into the skid and also shifting a bit of weight rearwards to help regain balance and traction.
