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  #1  
Old 05-27-2004, 07:08 PM
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Question AWD in heavy rain...

I was driving home yesterday in a torrential downpour that was causing several cars to pull off the inter-state due to the poor visibility and treacherous conditions. I continued on but noticed on two occasions when driving through some heavy water, that my steering wheel would get this 'twitch' in it.

Now the car wasn't hyro-planing (Sp?), and it felt more like the AWD system was sending more torque to the front wheels which caused this 'tugging' at my wheel.

Has anyone who's driven their AWD SVX in heavy rain or snow experienced this?

This is my first AWD car, so the mechanism is still kinda new to me...

Thanks!

-Chike
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  #2  
Old 05-27-2004, 07:13 PM
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I have the same problem when driving in heavy rain. You wouldn't think that the car is hydroplaning, but it is. Wet roads are fine, but once you hit a puddle, the wheel tugs one way or the other, depending on which tire hit the puddle. I has been raining like crazy here in Idaho, and all the standing water has led me to believe that I have the same problem as you. Hope this helps.

Keith
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Old 05-27-2004, 09:43 PM
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In heavy rain and standing water, mine does the same thing.
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  #4  
Old 05-27-2004, 09:57 PM
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It never rains here...
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Old 05-28-2004, 04:44 AM
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it's probably not actual hydroplaning, but rolling through water creates a LOT more resistance than rolling on dry pavement. that resistance makes your car try to steer in the direction of the resistance.

Hydroplaning would be if the tire actually lifted off the ground. this only takes in inch or two of water. less will still cause tugging tho. if you feel tugging, slow down . it's bad news, hydroplaning or not.
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  #6  
Old 05-28-2004, 07:07 AM
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That "twitch" almost certainly means one front wheel is hydroplaning, and it actually takes only a fraction of an inch of water, especially with wide tires and at speed, for this to occur.

Years ago in my '86 4WD wagon I failed to disengage the cruise control when I entered a sudden downpour on the highway, and next thing I knew the engine revved madly as the car completely lost traction while the cruise tried to maintain the set speed. Lesson learned: I started shifting into 4WD (and immediately killing the cruise) in anything heavier than a drizzle.

All-wheel drive is a great asset in any sort of lousy weather, but one must still exercise care, 'cos if the front wheels lose their bite and the rear wheels don't...


dcb
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  #7  
Old 05-28-2004, 07:18 AM
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Tires make a hugh difference in the amount of tugging. The Conti-ExtremeContacts are great for riding thru puddles. The tug is minimal and I agree that it is from more resistance in the puddle and not hydroplaning in this case. Hydroplaning as pointed out above will raise the tire off the road.

The other aspect of the CoExCo tires is that when driving thru a puddle water no longer splashes out the front of the tire and up over the hood. The tire channles the water away to the sides. Not the best tire for dry traction but great in the snow and water.
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  #8  
Old 05-28-2004, 07:57 AM
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Thanks guys! I wasn't driving very quickly at all, but it makes sense that the 'tugging' was probably from a lack of traction at one or more wheel.

I'll say this, even with that 'tugging' thing going on, I felt very safe and secure driving with AWD. The SVX is amazing!

-Chike
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  #9  
Old 05-28-2004, 04:20 PM
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You want hydroplaning? Try riding on my 25k mile azenis sports in the rain. It is more like surfing. I need a new set (they aren't much better in rain when new though)
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  #10  
Old 05-29-2004, 07:28 AM
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Sounds like it should be the next stunt on Fear Factor!

-Chike
Quote:
Originally posted by immortal_suby
You want hydroplaning? Try riding on my 25k mile azenis sports in the rain. It is more like surfing.
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  #11  
Old 05-29-2004, 08:22 PM
tancred
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I have felt this too, and i asked the subaru people and they told me the SVX has a early version of the sensi-trac AWD system, the whole 'transfers power from the wheels that slip to the wheels the grip" thing, they told me that the SVX will apply light brake when it loses traction transfering the power slowly to the wheels that are still gripping so that the vehicle will remain stable at its current speed without any excess wheel spin. I tested my car out in a raging downpour, i just pushed harder when i felt that and everyone on the road just got outta the way, never broke traction but i could tell the car was acting different, on one of my videos we go thru some big puddles of standing water, and from just going between dry pavement and puddles i could notice the difference immediatly. Smart little SVX...
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Old 05-29-2004, 08:31 PM
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Chiketkd Chiketkd is offline
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Very cool! I guess even our early model Subarus are 'driven by what's inside!'

-Chike

P.S. Honestly, the technological pedigree of this car never ceases to amaze me!
Quote:
Originally posted by tancred
I have felt this too, and i asked the subaru people and they told me the SVX has a early version of the sensi-trac AWD system, the whole 'transfers power from the wheels that slip to the wheels the grip" thing
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  #13  
Old 05-29-2004, 08:50 PM
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what never ceases to amaze me is that it only came in automatic.
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  #14  
Old 05-30-2004, 08:09 AM
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Quote:
Originally posted by tancred
, they told me that the SVX will apply light brake when it loses traction transfering the power slowly to the wheels that are still gripping so that the vehicle will remain stable at its current speed without any excess wheel spin.
They need to cite their information source on the svx "braking" any wheels without the driver's input.
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