Help me understand the Traction Control, Stabilitrak bypass...

[Jolly Roger]

Ok, so I think I have the basic concept down as to what traction control is and what Stabilitrak does.

I understand that by pressing the T/C button (disabling it) my tires will spin freely in the snow without the computer stopping them like it would if the system were left on. Is this correct?

If I hold down the T/C button for 5 seconds it will also disable the Stabilitrak system as well.

Now the part Im confused about (granted Im not already...)...

Supposedly by turning off both systems,... it really DOESN'T turn off the whole thing? How?

Why is the ability to turn off these functions available if they really dont turn anything off?

Ive watched both of these videos but still fail to understand what people are gaining by installing a bypass switch to the #9 ABS fuse?

 

[Doubeleive]

disabling the abs is the only way to "truly" disable the rest of the traction/stabiltrac systems because the data for those systems comes from the abs sensors in the hubs. so no data no traction control. completely free wheeling, all of that crap is just a safety feature your brakes will still work only you might skid to a stop instead of not skidding with abs active. traction control can be both beneficial and a hindrance depending on the given situation.

 

[Jolly Roger]

disabling the abs is the only way to "truly" disable the rest of the traction/stabiltrac systems because the data for those systems comes from the abs sensors in the hubs. so no data no traction control. completely free wheeling, all of that crap is just a safety feature your brakes will still work only you might skid to a stop instead of not skidding with abs active. traction control can be both beneficial and a hindrance depending on the given situation.

By holding the button in for five seconds I'm disabling both the traction control AND the Stabilitrak right?

So does anything at all actually happen when I turn Stabilitrak off?
According to the video, nothing happens? Why is it a feature?

 

[PG01]

i dunno.... shuts off on mine...

 

[Jolly Roger]

i dunno.... shuts off on mine...View attachment 249478View attachment 249479

What does? Pressing the Traction Control button or holding the button in for 5 seconds to get the Stabilitrak to turn off?

Or did you wire a switch to the fuse?

 

[PG01]

What does? Pressing the Traction Control button or holding the button in for 5 seconds to get the Stabilitrak to turn off?

Or did you wire a switch to the fuse?

pressing and holding

 

[Jolly Roger]

pressing and holding

So if your able to burn out with the Stabilitrak turned off then why do people bother wiring a switch to the ABS?
What is to gain?

 

[Doubeleive]

each time to you cycle the key it goes back to normal for one, and other than that it's just what I have read it doesn't totally disable it otherwise.

 

[PG01]

So if your able to burn out with the Stabilitrak turned off then why do people bother wiring a switch to the ABS?
What is to gain?

it completely disables the system

 

[Jolly Roger]

I guess what I'm after is what is the difference between disabling it the "factory way" vs pulling the ABS fuse or installing a switch.

If installing a switch "completely" disables it, what is, or to what degree does the factory deactivation deactivate it?

Do they really have us pushing buttons that don't really do anything?

Considering wiring a switch like the guy in the video, but just using the Traction Control button for the switch seeing how is does little to nothing anyway...?

 

[PG01]

I guess what I'm after is what is the difference between disabling it the "factory way" vs pulling the ABS fuse or installing a switch.

If installing a switch "completely" disables it, what is, or to what degree does the factory deactivation deactivate it?

Do they really have us pushing buttons that don't really do anything?

So i push my button and disable the system and power brake it, light up the tires and i have a smokey burny going...but the computer doesn’t really like that, it semi over rides my button push and i can tell it’s still trying to compensate for a ‘wheel skid’ ...many systems involved so that you don’t lose control if the vehicle. in the snow, with the systems active you’ll notice its harder to climb say a hilly driveway because its not letting the tire slip by applying the brakes which doesn’t exactly make for an easy hill climb. push the button and you get slip but no abs pumping and keeping you from moving foward. pulling the fuse or a switch takes it all out of the equation and lets everybody spin as much as they like.

if that makes any sense...i didn’t sleep for shit... like normal

 

[Jolly Roger]

So i push my button and disable the system and power brake it, light up the tires and i have a smokey burny going...but the computer doesn’t really like that, it semi over rides my button push and i can tell it’s still trying to compensate for a ‘wheel skid’ ...many systems involved so that you don’t lose control if the vehicle. in the snow, with the systems active you’ll notice its harder to climb say a hilly driveway because its not letting the tire slip by applying the brakes which doesn’t exactly make for an easy hill climb. push the button and you get slip but no abs pumping and keeping you from moving foward. pulling the fuse or a switch takes it all out of the equation and lets everybody spin as much as they like.

if that makes any sense...i didn’t sleep for shit... like normal

Its starting to finally sink in. I really appreciate you trying to explain it in depth!
I'm having a heck of a time finding much on it beyond that it completely disables it...
Trying to figure out if I would benefit from this mod or if I'm satisfied with whatever the factory "disabling" is. You're painting a good picture as to what the difference is. Thank you!

 

[PG01]

Its starting to finally sink in. I really appreciate you trying to explain it in depth!
I'm having a heck of a time finding much on it beyond that it completely disables it...
Trying to figure out if I would benefit from this mod or if I'm satisfied with whatever the factory "disabling" is. You're painting a good picture as to what the difference is. Thank you!

to be honest i live in new york, have a plow and i rarely disable with oem button. the majority of the time i plow in auto4wd and everything works fine. i only push button when i want a little tire spin when i’m playing around in rain, snow etc.

as an fyi 4lo turns off both systems.... because.... if you are using 4lo you ‘don’t’ want abs or any braking holding you back...and want power to all 4... that says something huh?...lol

higher hp guys want to completely disable by fuse or switch when they at a track and want to heat up the tires before a run....

***i edited 2nd paragraph

 

[Jolly Roger]

to be honest i live in new york, have a plow and i rarely disable with oem button. the majority of the time i plow in auto4wd and everything works fine. i only push button when i want a little tire spin when i’m playing around in rain, snow etc.

as an fyi 4lo turns off both systems.... because.... tire spin.....if you are using 4lo you ‘don’t’ want tire slippage... that says something huh?...lol

higher hp guys want to completely disable by fuse or switch when they at a track and want to heat up the tires before a run....

I'm in Alaska and my job sometimes has me in the back country on roads or driveways that don't get plowed at all or very little.
I have a mild lift (2inch level) and I've been very close to being high centered in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Idriveaho]

I turned both systems off during winter so I can fishtail.

 

[PG01]

I turned both systems off during winter so I can fishtail.

We all do....

 

[Bill 1960]

I know this thread is a year old, but I just wanted to add some clarification from the GM owner’s manual.

https://my.chevrolet.com/content/da...evrolet/tahoe/2008_chevrolet_tahoe_owners.pdf

Beginning on page 4-6 there are several pages that describe the operation of ABS, traction control, and Stabilitrak.

TLDR:

ABS I think everyone understands. You can’t turn it off.

TC has two aspects; throttle control and ABS. Pushing the switch turns off only the first. The braking function of TC cannot be switched off (this is using the ABS not to slow the vehicle, but to slow a spinning wheel that has no traction and force power to the opposite wheel).

Stabilitrak is a secondary layer that uses all three functions above to keep the vehicle moving in the direction you steer.


Many of us are confused because when the dash says TC is off, it’s only half off.

I can also say from personal experience the braking component of TC continues to function in 4L. Which is a good thing when you’re trying to climb a hill with only 3 tires touching the ground!