Off putting when cornering

[Funkyfin2000]

Hi All,

May have talked about this before, but still bugging me slightly....

When cornering (not overly fast but you know 60ish) I get the ABS kicking in trying to brake the wheel. It's most off putting when your suddenly going round a corner and it kicks in trying to brake one of the wheels.

The following handling mods are on my LCR:

Front and Rear Neuspeed ARBS
Front Top Audi Strut Brace

No Rear Strut Brace yet.
Standard Springs and Shocks

Any help on what would stop this situation helping would be great? I suppose the front of end of the car is extremely tight? The ABS is kicking in as when you go round the corner one of the wheels is lifting off the ground slightly?

Here's hopingly!

Rich

 

[Bobby.Gee]

cant help other than to say all i have are lowering springs and mine does not do that.

Are you sure its not an abs sensor or something, why would abs come on without you braking?

 

[Funkyfin2000]

Well it is odd then.

Its basically I am not braking, I am going around the corner and then I get shudder shuuder shhudeer as the ABS or maybe its the TCS kicking in then? It just feels like it trying to brake the wheel slightly as its comes in for a second then stops and goes on again.

Car checked every week for errors on VAG com and no issues highlighted.

Rich

 

[Bobby.Gee]

it must be tcs surely.

I cant see how the abs would kick in if youre foot is not even slightly on brake.

You know the way to test, go out again with youre TCS turned off.

 

[Funkyfin2000]

Yeah i am almost sure it doesn't happen with TCS off.

What does TCS actually do or effectively do?

 

[Bobby.Gee]

cut power to the wheels when they start to lose traction.

 

[traumapat]

Is tyre wear equal across all tyres?

 

[DannyC87]

Yeah i am almost sure it doesn't happen with TCS off.

What does TCS actually do or effectively do?

It is your ESP (electronic stability program) trying to stabilise the car by braking one wheel at a time to keep it in a straight line. It is an over-active system, and in my opinion pretty dangerous when driving the car hard. Under normal conditions it will help if the car gets away from you, however if you are driving hard and are expecting the car to be on the limit of grip then turning the ESP off is the best idea. Mine is off pretty much all the time.

 

[Funkyfin2000]

Tyre wear is brand new across both tyres and its been 4 wheel alligned!!!

I think Danny has hit the nail on the head.

So if I turn TCS off Danny will that be ESP off as well? Do you turn it off everytime you get in the car??? Cant believe everyone does this.

Do you think lowering the car would help with this or getting some koni springs and shocks on?

Rich

 

[DannyC87]

Tyre wear is brand new across both tyres and its been 4 wheel alligned!!!

I think Danny has hit the nail on the head.

So if I turn TCS off Danny will that be ESP off as well? Do you turn it off everytime you get in the car??? Cant believe everyone does this.

Do you think lowering the car would help with this or getting some koni springs and shocks on?

Rich

Turning the TCS off will put the ESP into "reduced" mode. You will not notice it until you get things really wrong when it will still be there to help ( I have only noticed this on slicks on track days!! )

Depends what driving I am doing, on the motorway I leave it on in case of needed to avoid unexpected object etc, but whenever I am "driving" it the ESP is off yes.

Coilovers have reduced the interference of ESP on mine as the car is more planted on the road and so the ABS sensors are not picking up any differential speeds causing the ESP to kick in.

 

[andycupra]

its ESP as said above.

 

[vwbassett]

Mine is lowered marginally with Weitec 30mm kit with no arbs and i have never had any problems tanking it around the lanes. Only problems are wet grip but if anything the esp is a positive feedback even when the pirelli ditch finders with very low amount of tread all round were on. Have you noticed a massive increase in speed due to improved cornering with the ARB's, maybe your just reaching the limit now? but IMO its got to be something mechanical if VAGCOM doesnt bring issues up, maybe the ARB's and the car is too tight as im sure another chap mentioned after fitting ARB's he had more ESP/ABS cutting in.

 

[Funkyfin2000]

Im thinking what you say above is the same.

Anyone else with ARBs all around having the same problem? Maybe they need adjusting. I don't know what they are set to as they were on the car when I had them and I wouldn't have a clue how to adjust them either.

Maybe lowering it or putting some Koni shocks and springs would help, but probably only do it when my standard suspension is done in!

 

[leon cupra r]

Agree with danny mate, it will be your ESP... I also find it is way overprotective - my mates got a megane F1 edition and he can wrestle the car round roundabouts with the ESP barely kicking in untill his backend has pretty much overtaken the front! with the leon, the ESP seems to see the roundabout as you're approaching it and starts panicking before you even get there!!

As said, just turn it off if you're driving hard!

 

[andycupra]

its interesting as ive owned two leons, a cupra and a cupra R.

The cupra was a 2000 model and the ESP / traction control system was far less intrusive. The traction control in particular was great, it would allow a little slip and wouldnt 'cut' power as aggressively as the LCR. ESP was very relaxed.

I suspect that the early leon cupras may of had a nicer system.

 

[Funkyfin2000]

Its very off putting. I just wandered if lowering it a touch might help, might make it worse! LOL!

 

[psycho6285]

Have you looked at the bushes on front wishone, the rear bushes. I had the same problem as they were worn, put the TT bushes on there and it went away.

 

[TubbyTwo]

just drive with the traction control off. I do everywhere now much more fun to drive.

Compared to other cars its just not progressive enough you have power one minute then the wheels slip/spin or whatever and it just cuts the power.

muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch more fun without it on

 

[Willie]

I still have this too but put ESP/TCS off when having fun to save it cutting in.

I'm looking into totally disabling the ESP/TCS system FOR EVER!!!!

 

[leon cupra r]

I'm looking into totally disabling the ESP/TCS system FOR EVER!!!!

Had enough of 'computer says no' its about time we said no to the computer!!!!