Haldex awd

AlS3BE

AlS3BE

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Been out in the snow with the s3 and was curious what the thoughts are on here.
The haldex/Quattro options on the drive select has comfort, auto and dynamic and you also got the default drive select options like efficiency, auto dynamic.
Which one will be the best option in slippery condition?
In my head the dynamic setting as the haldex engages quicker when there’s slip but that could also have a detrimental effect of power sliding and tail out.
Opinions?
This is what bored lockdown makes you think about these random things :wink:
 
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AlS3BE said:
Been out in the snow with the s3 and was curious what the thoughts are on here.
The haldex/Quattro options on the drive select has comfort, auto and dynamic and you also got the default drive select options like efficiency, auto dynamic.
Which one will be the best option in slippery condition?
In my head the dynamic setting as the haldex engages quicker when there’s slip but that could also have a detrimental effect of power sliding and tail out.
Opinions?
This is what bored lockdown makes you think about these random things :wink:
Click to expand...

Interesting question!

At a guess - Dynamic since power is distributed across front and back earlier, as opposed to starting to get out of shape and then power being applied to the back making it worse. Curious how the drive modes interact with ESP since slippery conditions can impact power delivery, yaw, steering angle, and braking, and once the brakes are applied, haldex disengages.

That said, the rear stepped out on me for a second last weekend going around a roundabout - I was accelerating at the time but not massively. I have my steering weight set to heavy, especially in winter as is easier to tell when it starts to go light.
 
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JohnM100 said:
Interesting question!

At a guess - Dynamic since power is distributed across front and back earlier, as opposed to starting to get out of shape and then power being applied to the back making it worse. Curious how the drive modes interact with ESP since slippery conditions can impact power delivery, yaw, steering angle, and braking, and once the brakes are applied, haldex disengages.

That said, the rear stepped out on me for a second last weekend going around a roundabout - I was accelerating at the time but not massively. I have my steering weight set to heavy, especially in winter as is easier to tell when it starts to go light.
Click to expand...
Found mine a little tail happy in the snow. But more fun than the usual understeer.
Think that’s what I’m trying to get at with my original question. Is more delay to the haldex make it better or worse? Then as you said all the other electronic gubbins like esp help or not.
 
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Surely having it in Auto takes out any guesswork . I should imagine Audi would have done extensive research on its Haldex software in different conditions with Auto being the best all rounder?
I have an extra setting on my Cupra which is specific to snow which I,m guessing holds back on power delivery and is more sensative. Despite the recent weather I haven't been able to try it out yet.
 
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pburv said:
Surely having it in Auto takes out any guesswork . I should imagine Audi would have done extensive research on its Haldex software in different conditions with Auto being the best all rounder?
I have an extra setting on my Cupra which is specific to snow which I,m guessing holds back on power delivery and is more sensative. Despite the recent weather I haven't been able to try it out yet.
Click to expand...

Auto is a compromise solution. Want to see what the optimal solution is. I’m a tinkerer and don’t like leaving stuff alone :wink:
 
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AlS3BE said:
Auto is a compromise solution. Want to see what the optimal solution is. I’m a tinkerer and don’t like leaving stuff alone :wink:
Click to expand...
Lol.... Idle hands are the devils workshop....:chuncky:
 
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I don't have drive select, just the S or D modes on the S-tronic geabox. I find that D is better in snow as the S mode is too power instant. I can regulate the power a bit more in D mode. The S mode just plants the power and results in wheelspin a lot of the times.
 
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I use manual mode and use higher gear if possible to limit loosing traction!

Some times a bit more fun when all 4 wheel are spinning! lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Individual mode with the engine in comfort to reduce throttle response a little, and transmission in quattro for traction. Manual mode for low speed manoeuvring on bad surfaces seems to make the most logical sense.
 
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From my past readings, I was under the impression that the drive modes adjust only the following:
  • Engine - throttle response and exhaust note
  • Suspension - stiffer / softer shock rebound
  • Steering - stiffer / softer steering gear feedback
  • Transmission - shift points depending on mode
I have yet to come across any Haldex behavior changes in relation to drive modes except when listed for some RS models. From my understanding, the Haldex reacts to wheel speed changes as sent from the ABS/ESC control module (there may also be input CAN message from the rain sensor but I imagine this is sent to the ABS / ESC). I would think this operation would be the same and not dependent on which drive mode is selected. If there is specs elsewhere showing Haldex behavior changes please let me know as I would like to incorporate it when driving in the snow or bad weather like the OP.
As for which drive mode would be best for snow - I agree with others that Comfort has been best from my past experiences as the throttle is a bit less sensitive. Cheers
 
MarttiMat said:
From my past readings, I was under the impression that the drive modes adjust only the following:
  • Engine - throttle response and exhaust note
  • Suspension - stiffer / softer shock rebound
  • Steering - stiffer / softer steering gear feedback
  • Transmission - shift points depending on mode
I have yet to come across any Haldex behavior changes in relation to drive modes except when listed for some RS models. From my understanding, the Haldex reacts to wheel speed changes as sent from the ABS/ESC control module (there may also be input CAN message from the rain sensor but I imagine this is sent to the ABS / ESC). I would think this operation would be the same and not dependent on which drive mode is selected. If there is specs elsewhere showing Haldex behavior changes please let me know as I would like to incorporate it when driving in the snow or bad weather like the OP.
As for which drive mode would be best for snow - I agree with others that Comfort has been best from my past experiences as the throttle is a bit less sensitive. Cheers
Click to expand...

On the s3 there’s also a setting for Quattro in the drive select. Assuming that controls the haldex and how the esp/traction works.
 
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AlS3BE said:
On the s3 there’s also a setting for Quattro in the drive select. Assuming that controls the haldex and how the esp/traction works.
Click to expand...

Good to know! Then I would assume there is some adjustments made for the type of driving style wanted.
 
The start of the thread was specifically the quattro setting, more than drive select overall (at least that’s the way I read it, given the thread title) but AlS3BE can clarify as it’s his thread.

For Drive Select overall for winter, I set *Individual* as
Engine: Comfort
Steering: Dynamic
Transmission: comfort
Quattro: Dynamic

Overall - gentler power delivery, heavy steering to better feel when it goes light, and early 4WD engagement.
 
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JohnM100 said:
The start of the thread was specifically the quattro setting, more than drive select overall (at least that’s the way I read it, given the thread title) but AlS3BE can clarify as it’s his thread.

For Drive Select overall for winter, I set *Individual* as
Engine: Comfort
Steering: Dynamic
Transmission: comfort
Quattro: Dynamic

Overall - gentler power delivery, heavy steering to better feel when it goes light, and early 4WD engagement.
Click to expand...

that’s what I had on this morning when I was out.
To be honest I couldn’t feel a huge difference between the different Quattro settings but that could be down to good tyres so I’m not slipping as much no matter what wheels it’s driving. Biggest difference was turning off esp altogether as that allows everything to slip.

Upload 2021 2 11 17 48 2


3-4 inches of snow ,some parts with more, and really powdery stuff and the car didn’t even flinch in any settings :wink:
Think it might be a case of let the computer do it’s thing and just steer.
 
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Sweet!

Lovely car - Mine was built within a week or two of yours.

How the hell do you keep those alloys clean with that spoke pattern?

I get the ‘check grip level & cruise past those who don’t know’ but was laughing at those trying to do the RWD drift/donuts in car parks 2 weeks ago - was praying for a kerb to suck them in...
 
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JohnM100 said:
Sweet!

Lovely car - Mine was built within a week or two of yours.

How the hell do you keep those alloys clean with that spoke pattern?

I get the ‘check grip level & cruise past those who don’t know’ but was laughing at those trying to do the RWD drift/donuts in car parks 2 weeks ago - was praying for a kerb to suck them in...
Click to expand...

those wheels are a pain to clean. Got 3-4 different size brushes to get them right even then I miss bits.
Luckily they are just my winters so generally just good blast with pressure washer will do. Weather been quite rubbish this year so far this year so haven’t really cleaned the car. Think it’s been cleaned once this year.
 
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