96 AWD TSI Poor handling in snow

[jkbobcat]

Here's the problem. My AWD tsi like to swing out when turning a corner or making a U turn in the snow.. Even if im going slow it will tend to feel like its going to spin out. Especially turning left. Did a wheel alignment on it, tires are good. I don't know what it could be. But something ain't right. Perhaps a rear diff problem? Someone please help.

 

[ali]

nope it just snow

 

[reardrv]

AWD DSM's can sometimes exhibit rear wheel drive tendencies in the snow, but only if your driving harder then you should be in the snow. Or if you have bald tires/don't have tires that work well in the snow.

 

[jkbobcat]

I have winter tires on. So I know thats not the problem. and I'm driving pretty careful. Spun out a few corners going around 20-30 km/h.

 

[jrohner]

If you feel the back sliding a lot, you can get it back by pulling on the e-brake slightly to slow the back tires down a bit (so the front spins more than the back -- DO NOT stop the back tires); basically turning it into a fwd which are easy to get out of almost any slide. This is the only way I've found to control it; and remember never to let off the throttle completely when sideways (unless you have to spin out to avoid something ahead or to your outside). You can't wimp out when sliding, especially with awd.

 

[jkbobcat]

Thanks for the advice. I will give the ebrake thing a try. Anyone else have some insight

 

[red_devil]

yes power through and go sideways round the corner

Lower your tire pressure a bit to get some more tire on the road. Maybe check to see that the rear diff is working ok, do you have a liited slip-your a 95 so you mokst likely do.

 

[jkbobcat]

my car is a 96. How can you tell if you got LSD? And how do you check if your rear diff is working properly?

 

[gorf]

look at the tag on the diff - if it says LSD it is - on talons I believe it was an option, on eclipse it was standard.

 

[Afroclipse]

look at the tag on the diff - if it says LSD it is - on talons I believe it was an option, on eclipse it was standard.

No it wasn't, don't start that arguement now. How does your car run when there is no snow on the ground, better yet on dry pavement when you launch her does she swing to one side or act unusual.

 

[jkbobcat]

runs great on dry pavement. Doesnt swing out . Just on snow

 

[wickednightmare]

runs great on dry pavement. Doesnt swing out . Just on snow

check your e brake if it sticks like my 1g dont use it when its cool and freezeing makes for a bad time mine sticks when it gets cold so i dont use it i found out last winter when my cars rear started doin the same thing sorry didnt see the prev. post but check the e brake like we said

 

[crimsondragon]

runs great on dry pavement. Doesnt swing out . Just on snow

Personally I think it's just you. But give your alignment a check as well. Fresh powder is really easy to lose control on due to the fact it's fresh so it's loose, not packed.

 

[Dsmj89]

I agree. Any AWD and RWD car will tend to spin out and slide in the snow due to the slipperiness withholding your tires from getting a good grip with the ground. It's normal, ease up on the gas and and like mentioned above reduce tire pressure a bit but not too much ! Let us know how it goes.

 

[wickednightmare]

I agree. Any AWD and RWD car will tend to spin out and slide in the snow due to the slipperiness withholding your tires from getting a good grip with the ground. It's normal, ease up on the gas and and like mentioned above reduce tire pressure a bit but not too much ! Let us know how it goes.

it is how ever fun to do donuts with in the snow i did the other day we got a little snow even better with a welded center dif

 

[Dsmj89]

Oh yeah, too bad we dont have snow down here in florida, i would have liked to try out a crazy donut at least once when i had my 91 tsi awd.

 

[wickednightmare]

Oh yeah, too bad we dont have snow down here in florida, i would have liked to try out a crazy donut at least once when i had my 91 tsi awd.

if we get some more snow ill take some one with me and video it so u can see well good luck guys its bed time

 

[Dsmj89]

Thanks man will be awaiting that vid. Sleep good.

 

[aaronspeed]

I would say the wheels are fighting each other. A 4 wheel alignment check needed. You would probably not notice it on dry pavement. Check all your tires and see if any of them show some scuffing on the inside or outside edge.

 

[bmoha2]

I think its easier to slide the rear end out on packed snow than it is on fresh powder unless there is packed snow underneath then it's just a freakin free for all.
I purposefully set my Talon up with a bias towards oversteer. I concentrated on removing more weight from the front of the car than I did from the rear. I also relocated the battery to the trunk. I usually run my Toikikos one step harder in the the rear than I do in the front. In the winter time I run 3 in the front and 4 in the rear. I don't much like understeer which our cars have a tendency to do.
If your car is stepping out the rear in the snow in tight radius turns then I would say you are a little bit ahead of the game. Try lowering the air pressure in your tires to promote a bit more grip.
Alignment is crucial as well. Check your tires for weird wear.
If you have strut tower braces front and rear; you might try removing the rear strut tower brace to see how the car reacts.
What winter tires is your car wearing? I have my Talon setup with 16X7s with BFG Traction T/As. Just a basic all season tire. Traction is great. I can step out the rear at will going around a tight radius turn but have traction when I need it. Are you running lower profile tires? I take my 17s off and they hang out in my garage during the winter. A stiff sidewall, low profile tire will hurt your handling in the winter time. The ideal in the winter time would be a narrower tire with a flexible sidewall with plenty of ice traction sipes.
Are your tires specifically winter tires or just all season tires? There is a large difference between winter tires like Blizzaks or Firestone Winterforce tires and all season tires. My friends Civic with a LSD and Blizzaks had better traction than my AWD Talon did with all season tires.
You should fill out your profile. It would make it a little easier for guys on the forum diagnose problems

 

[ricktb]

My car does this too, I always figured it was due to the LSD.. while cornering the outside tire spins faster than the inside tire but the lsd likes to resist the difference in speeds and since the fresh snow and ice provides less traction, one or both of the tires will slide causing oversteer, makes for great drifting.

The front tires function closer to normal differential, that is the tire with less traction gets the power, this makes for better steering (usually the inside tire will spin while the outside tire rolls along but maintains full traction on the road)

PS I just got a set of Toyo Garit KX winter performance tires installed, god damn these tires grip, I almost can't keep a drift going on snow and ice.. that is unless I keep the boost up, tho I do notice they sway a bit while swerving (they seem to counter my RM sway bars)

 

[knochgoon24]

Find an empty parking lot and spend a good bit of time learning exactly how and when it will start wanting to break loose. You'll be surprised how much more control you can have when you know how to slide it and how to counter those slides.

I purposefully break the car loose around bends (usually just really poorly plowed intersections) to get the car to go where I want. I'd hate to break loose 3' from the curb and plow straight into it, which I see happen all too often to cars ahead of me.

A bonus to sliding at intersections is that the guy behind you will give you a bit more room going down the next road.

 

[Redwidow]

nope it just snow

+1 There is nothing wrong with your car.

 

[jkbobcat]

ok guys, I just came back from doing some testing in a parking lot and this is what if found. Whenever i was doing drifting turning right it felt very managable and easy to control and had to push on the gas berfore it would even start going sideways. I didn't spin once. But however, when I started to do drifting on the left it took very little effort to get the car sideways and was pretty hard to control. Spun out a few times not using as much gas as the right side. Wierd i thought. Could something be bent??

 

[wickednightmare]

ok guys, I just came back from doing some testing in a parking lot and this is what if found. Whenever i was doing drifting turning right it felt very managable and easy to control and had to push on the gas berfore it would even start going sideways. I didn't spin once. But however, when I started to do drifting on the left it took very little effort to get the car sideways and was pretty hard to control. Spun out a few times not using as much gas as the right side. Wierd i thought. Could something be bent??

check your ebrake adjustments and get hat alignment