[MikeT]

Originally Posted by brandont

Not exactly. You can spin a FWD car the same way. Enter a corner very near the limit, get on the gas until the front starts to push, then close the throttle. If the car is anywhere near balanced & good handling, the back end will come around. Get back on the gas to stop the back end coming around. You can do basically the same thing in a RWD car, but it is a bit easier because the back end does add 'braking' when you get off the gas.

However, the MAIN reason the back end comes around in either car is weight transfer. As much as 20% of the vehicles weight transfers forward under braking (less under lift throttle). This removes traction from the rear wheels.

Enter the same corner at the same speed and apply light braking (all 4 wheels) and the car will quickly stabilize, as you only need to scrub a TINY bit of speed in order to regain control. So from this, I would say no - cutting the rear wheels out does NOT help with stability under braking. In fact, the less cutting in / out of power & braking you have - the more predictable the car. That's why racers don't clutch going into a corner.

The films I refered to were cars losing the rear end while traveling in a straight line on a reduced traction, closed course. You are correct about not clutching while entering a corner as I mentioned above. I did certainly did learn that lesson The point of my little diatribe was for people who drive pickups and the Ridgeline in particular when it comes to our AWD drivetrain working in FWD only during deceleration and breaking. I believe the reason for this is to remove the torque from the rear wheel during deceleration and breaking to help prevent the rear wheels losing traction (Due to weight transfer and reduced traction). The main reason a lot of other rear drive trucks and cars end up in ditches (Especially pickups) is that the drivers lifts the throttle when on ice or near hydroplaning and rear end loses traction (From a combination of engine break torque and reduced traction) and the driver doesn't correct for this by either shifting into neutral or maintaining a steady throttle.

Next time you drive on ice, find a safe place to experiement. Try my simple suggestion that whe the rear end breaks lose on the ice, just shift into neutral. It has worked on my 98 Dodge Dakota (318ci) 2wd p/u, my brother inlaws Dodge Ram 4wd, and my sister inlaws Jeep Commander 4wd.