Its difficult braking going sideways!
 

Hi peeps,

Just shat myself good and proper on a bend. Basically on a road alongside the M53 there is a backroad and shortcut that crosses the motorway, some of you may know it. Anyhow I was coming up to it, not going fast at all, or acting like a tit. It was snowing ffs. Perhaps 15 mph. Next thing I know, the car is skidding across the double solid white, as in right over. Im there stamping on the brake but nothing is happening. Obviously when you are going sideways you have no brakes but its instinct and its scary. Serious question, in such instances how are you supposed to recover it, ie control the skid ?

Luckily I didnt hit anything and there was nothing coming the other way, thank god. I just ended up looking a bit of a tit, could have been a lot worse.

And todays word is BRAKES :rolleyes: ;)

yeah yeah, smartarse ;) I just had a NDE so stuff the spelling ;)

lol, I'd have let you off if it was only once, you still missed one BTW :D

Unfortunately once you're sideways there's very little that will stop you, apart from friction or a solid object.

If there is snow on the ground then you ain't going to find a lot of friction; a typical four wheel drive recovery technique would be to plant the throttle, keep the front wheel straight, and hope that it pulls you out.

Its not as easy as it sounds, you have to have a fair amount of courage to boot it when its already out of shape, especially if you weren't expecting it.

Unfortunately at 15mph you probably won't have enough torque to be of any use.

And today's grammar is Today's :rolleyes:;)

Come Off the brakes completely, steer into the slide, and apply LIGHT throttle. Or take your chances and dip the clutch.

Commng tottally off the throttle will continue the slide due to engine braking...and that lovely rear LSD on scoobs linking both rear wheels together (which makes it worse).

Your weren't in 1st gear by per chance? :nono:

True, but standing on them does give you something to do before you slide to a halt! :)

Seriously, the main advantage of 4WD is traction, but for this to come into play you need power, so as others have indicated, you'll need some throttle. Best thing to do is try and get the front wheels pointing in the direction you'd like to travel and then give it some throttle, if there is any grip available the 4WD will find it for you, if not.....well :cry: Its very easy all of us saying what you should do, but as you've said- it's a different story when you're actually in the situation. Ideally, we'd all need some practice in a nice safe environment.

Glad you and the car are ok.

Best

If you are sideways on, the wheels are acting as though you had locked up the brakes going forward anyway.

Never possible to generalise about the recovery action unless you are on the spot.

Les

Get some winter/snow tyres and don't get into the situation in the first place????

and if you insist on driving in snow on summer tyres take your abs fuse out.

Let's walk before we can run eh :Whatever_

:D

I found in similar circumstances that an excellent thing to stop alloy wheels from sliding is the kerb :mad:

Haha Brendan, bit of a last resort that one :)

Les

Spent the last 2 days fishtailing in the snow as I drive a BMW 328. RWD and too much power going to them. Easy enough controlled as long as you have forward movement, ready for it and a controllable speed. But if its sideways all you can do is think about what cleaner will take the piss stains out the seats:D

Alas

Is that why you BMW owners drive around with your fog lights on (in order to divert power from those incredibly powerful back wheels)? ;)

No you twonk. Its why we don't use our indicators as that gives an extra 25bhp.:D
Alas

:D