Was told by a guy I would consider a Camaro expert to keep traction cntr turned off.

[L99CAMA2011]

Honestly you shouldn't have it turned off in the tune, you may need it from time to time. I keep mine on in rain conditions and off occasionally or on S,C,M. Only full on if I forgot or was driving like a block or so. With mods like blower and so on good luck with it off of public roads. However with stock suspension I would have it on all the time. Stock suspension has less stability than my setup.

[E.T.]

There are too many "features" on this car as it is. I'm not claiming to be a pro driver or something, but on dry roads in normal temps, I always turn off TC and leave stabilitrak on. I can control traction with my foot, and I don't like the idea of the car pulling timing because it knows better. People become too dependent on all this technology and think if they drive their cars without it, they'll immediately lose control and destroy their car. Yes, it can happen—even with TC on. Know your limits and the limits of the car and road conditions, don't drive like a moron, stay off the damn cell phone and you should be fine

[SonomaJohn]

Originally Posted by Doc

The benefits of keeping these systems on far outweigh the "negative" of having brake dust on your wheels. All the TC has to do is just once, in a hard emergency stop, keep the car straight and the wheels from sliding so that you avoid a collision and it just saved you a whole lot more money than the cost of brake pads.

The safety advantages are well worth a little brake dust.

This discussion is about traction control which controls wheel spin under power. It sounds like you are talking about the ABS brake system and I don't think it is affected by whether the TC is on or off.

[Number 3]

As clearly stated, yes, your brakes are part of active handling and traction control.

And yes, some of you may be able to drive well enough that you might justify turning them off.

That being said, both of these systems are critical if you find yourself in a panic or evasive maneuver. There are way too many people who will be surprised and unless driveing for a living find they really do need a car that is smarter and faster than they. And I could share some stories of people who thought they were smarter than a few Z06s at launch only to crack up a few cars simply driving hard.

Brake dust or safety systems....................hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Take it off on a track day but if you are on public roads there is no reason for you to turn either off. If you do for some of the reasons mentioned you are driving in a manner that is, although fun, probably considered reckless or careless in most states.

[camarozzzz]

Originally Posted by Number 3

As clearly stated, yes, your brakes are part of active handling and traction control.

And yes, some of you may be able to drive well enough that you might justify turning them off.

That being said, both of these systems are critical if you find yourself in a panic or evasive maneuver. There are way too many people who will be surprised and unless driveing for a living find they really do need a car that is smarter and faster than they. And I could share some stories of people who thought they were smarter than a few Z06s at launch only to crack up a few cars simply driving hard.

Brake dust or safety systems....................hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Take it off on a track day but if you are on public roads there is no reason for you to turn either off. If you do for some of the reasons mentioned you are driving in a manner that is, although fun, probably considered reckless or careless in most states.

Although I fully agree with you, you are forgetting that you are talking to quite a few "speed racers" here - basically people who have run their car at a track once or twice and are now NASCAR certified You can spot a few of them in this thread already

[SonomaJohn]

Originally Posted by Number 3

As clearly stated, yes, your brakes are part of active handling and traction control.

And yes, some of you may be able to drive well enough that you might justify turning them off.

That being said, both of these systems are critical if you find yourself in a panic or evasive maneuver. There are way too many people who will be surprised and unless driveing for a living find they really do need a car that is smarter and faster than they. And I could share some stories of people who thought they were smarter than a few Z06s at launch only to crack up a few cars simply driving hard.

Brake dust or safety systems....................hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Take it off on a track day but if you are on public roads there is no reason for you to turn either off. If you do for some of the reasons mentioned you are driving in a manner that is, although fun, probably considered reckless or careless in most states.

I believe that we all understand that traction control uses the brakes as part of its function. My understanding is that disabling traction control does not affect the operation of ABS during braking. This is confirmed by all of the reading that I have done and makes sense to me. I would also think that GM would make it very clear in the manual if turning TC off had any affect on the function of ABS braking. I would be very interested if anyone has solid confirmation that the ABS function is disabled when TC is.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by SonomaJohn

This discussion is about traction control which controls wheel spin under power. It sounds like you are talking about the ABS brake system and I don't think it is affected by whether the TC is on or off.

It's a sophisticated system that encompasses all aspects and it's there for our safety. On the street there are many variables you have no control over that can suddenly and without warning create a situation where your safety and/or life can be in jeopardy.

I've been driving over 40 years and I've seen just about everything from people running lights, running stop signs, in the dark with no lights, speeding, tire blow-outs, a wheel coming completely off the vehicle in front of me, animals suddenly darting into the road, parts falling off cars, items falling out of cars, falling off of trucks, tree branches falling on the road, pedestrians stepping out from behind parked cars, kids running into the street, etc.... you name it.

I had a brand new 2004 Mazda RX8 and I was coming home on Christmas Eve at night in the rain when an oncoming car suddenly from behind the line of cars waiting to make the turn, pulls out and around and cuts in front of them to make a freeway onramp. I was travelling about 40 mph when he did this right in front of me and I saw the front of his car dive as he saw my headlights and realized what he'd done and hit the brakes, but he was still moving into my lane. I swerved hard right and saw his headlights disappear underneath my left windowsill that's how close he came. I turned hard left expecting him to hit me in the side and I wanted to be in the road instead of hitting the concrete side of the underpass. However instead of a spin collision, the RX8 with all the latest computer-assisted traction/stability control made the impossible maneuver flawlessly without loss of traction in the rain and I miraculously avoided being hit. I instantly looked in my rearview mirror and saw the other car stopped halfway into my lane; I couldn't believe I made it through the gap between him and the curb without hitting something... but I did.

I'm a very good driver; I drive on the track and I'm fast. But there's no doubt in my mind that I might not have survived that had I not been in a car with the latest in traction-assist safety systems.

I never dreamed anyone in their right mind would make a move like that in front of me but that's the problem; there are drivers out there who are just that kind of wild card. And that was in 2004 before everyone was using cell phones in their cars. Now it's far worse.

There's absolutely no rational/sensible reason to turn these systems off when you're on the street. On the track, sure...go for it, although even on the track they aren't a bad idea if you're running a course you've never been on before. Familiarize yourself with it until you know the layout, and then turn some of these systems off if you like. But these systems are so good now that I personally think you're crazy to turn them off on the street; they can provide that edge you might suddenly need one night when you least expect it.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by SonomaJohn

I believe that we all understand that traction control uses the brakes as part of its function. My understanding is that disabling traction control does not affect the operation of ABS during braking. This is confirmed by all of the reading that I have done and makes sense to me. I would also think that GM would make it very clear in the manual if turning TC off had any affect on the function of ABS braking. I would be very interested if anyone has solid confirmation that the ABS function is disabled when TC is.

Anti Lock Brakes is a Federal Requirement. It can not be disabled any more than your airbag can.

§ 393.55Antilock brake systems.

(a) Hydraulic brake systems. Each truck and bus manufactured on or after March 1, 1999 (except trucks and buses engaged in driveaway-towaway operations), and equipped with a hydraulic brake system, shall be equipped with an antilock brake system that meets the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 105 (49 CFR 571.105, S5.5).

And FMVSS 105 states:

Standard No. 105 - Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems - Passenger Cars (Effective 1-1-68)

This standard specifies requirements for vehicles equipped with hydraulic and electric service brake systems and associated parking brake systems to ensure safe braking performance under normal conditions and emergency conditions.

Passenger Cars (Effective 1-1-76), School Buses (Effective 4-1-77) Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles, Trucks and Buses (Effective 9-1-83) Vehicles with Electric Brake Systems (Effective 10-20-97)
All braking effectiveness tests measure stopping distance.

Passenger Cars (Effective 3-6-95 until 9-1-2000), Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles, Trucks and Buses
(Effective 12-1-97 until 9-1-2002)

Manufacturers of passenger cars and multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs), trucks and buses with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) less than or equal to 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs.) may certify compliance with either FMVSS No. 105 or FMVSS No. 135 described later in this booklet. After the terminal dates shown above, FMVSS No. 105 continues to apply to MPVs, Trucks and Buses with a GVWR greater than 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs.).

Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles, Trucks and Buses (Effective 3-1-99) Multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks and buses with a GVWR greater than 4,536 kg (10,000 lbs.) must be equipped with an antilock brake system and meet additional stopping distance requirements.

So turning off Handling and Traction Control systems will not impact ABS performance.

[All Star]

Originally Posted by Doc

All the TC has to do is just once, in a hard emergency stop, keep the car straight and the wheels from sliding so that you avoid a collision and it just saved you a whole lot more money than the cost of brake pads.

TC has no effect on how a car stops.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by SSBlack

Are there any known court cases where this data was used against someone? Or even helped someone?

At least 25 court cases..

Is the crash data obtained admissible at trial?
Yes. In more than 25 criminal and civil cases around the US, Crash Data Retrieval system recovered data has been admitted as evidence along with expert opinion over objection and after extensive admissibility hearing and challenges.

[MLL67RSSS]

So should I just put my big-block torque positraction equipped NON ABS/TC/Stabilitrac old car up on blocks? It's appears it just may be a danger to us all!!!
Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by MLL67RSSS

So should just put my big-block torque positraction equipped NON ABS/TC/Stabilitrac old car up on blocks? It's appears it just may be a danger to us all!!!
Sorry, couldn't help myself.

It could also be said drivers of old school cars are better drivers.

[Mr. Unassailable]

Originally Posted by MLL67RSSS

So should I just put my big-block torque positraction equipped NON ABS/TC/Stabilitrac old car up on blocks? It's appears it just may be a danger to us all!!!
Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Clearly that is what the experts in this thread think is best for all our safety.

Did I just type this after safely arriving to my destination after a 13 mile drive through the rain in my 466 RWHP Manual Transmission SS with 315 NT05R drag radials with TC off the whole trip? Yes I did.




I survived C5F3!!!

[MLL67RSSS]

Originally Posted by upflying

It could also be said drivers of old school cars are better drivers.

Well in all honesty did bang up a car or two a bit getting there (If I am), fortunately fender bender stuff. Can't learn to skate without falling on your #$$ once or twice