Slippery Mode

[Mark S.]

Slippery mode is more about rapid braking adjustments than torque vectoring

How does this increase wear on the brake system?

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[TheNurm]

The question was about wet pavement, not ice. The only time SLIPPERY mode increases wear on brakes is when it employs torque vectoring, and that only happens when a wheel loses traction and spins. Torque vectoring applies the brakes on a spinning wheel to force torque to the other wheel on the same axle that's not spinning. The normal traction and stability control systems use the same brake-based torque vectoring, and these are engaged all the time, so I don't see how SLIPPERY mode will cause greater wear on the brake system.

You owner's manual warns against engaging the 4WD lock on dry pavement due to the increased wear on the power transfer unit. I would submit there isn't much difference between dry pavement and wet pavement when it comes to wear on the PTU.

if there is no difference between wet and dry pavement, then why do you need slippery mode? If the wet roads are indeed slippery, how will this cause more strain on the PTU? I am not talking about locking the rear dual clutch diff, just putting it in 4wd so it splits power evenly between front and rear, as opposed to the forward bias most of the time.
anyway, use slippery mode if you want, I don't feel it is necessary for rain, or running through water, just try it out and see what you like. At highway speed, no traction setting is going to prevent hydroplaning or anything, that is just tires.

 

[Mark S.]

if there is no difference between wet and dry pavement, then why do you need slippery mode?

I didn't say there's no difference, I said there's little difference as regards conditions for which SLIPPERY mode was designed. Wet roads offer less traction than dry roads, but far more traction snow- or ice-covered roads. From your owner's manual:

Slippery

For less than ideal road conditions such as snow or ice covered roads. This mode can be used for crossing terrain where a firm surface is covered with loose, wet or slippery material. Slippery mode lowers throttle response and optimizes shifting for slippery surfaces.

The manual specifically does not recommend use of slippery mode on wet pavement, but does mention "slippery material." This can be confusing, so I try to discern meaning from the way the manual describes how SLIPPERY mode functions: it lowers throttle response and optimizes shifting. This is meant to keep RPM low, thus reducing torque going to the wheels to limit wheel spin. Although your wheels ARE more likely to spin on wet pavement, that is not the primary danger, so I don't view SLIPPERY mode as especially helpful in those conditions.

If the wet roads are indeed slippery, how will this cause more strain on the PTU?

"Slippery" is not a binary on/off condition, it's a continuum. I haven't taken scientific measurements, but it seems to me that off-road surfaces (loose dirt, sand, etc.) and snow/ice-covered pavement are far more slippery than wet pavement. With 4WD lock engaged the front and rear wheels are locked, and meant to spin at the same speed. If conditions are such that the front and rear wheels must turn at different speeds with 4WD locked then either the tires or the clutches in the PTU must slip. Off-road surfaces or snow/ice-covered pavement allow the tires to slip rather than the PTU clutches. The more traction the tires have the more stress you place on the PTU (and other driveline components), hence the warning in your owner's manual:

These features are only intended for consistently slippery or loose surfaces. Operating your vehicle outside of these conditions could subject the vehicle to excessive stress, which may result in damage not covered under your warranty.

In my opinion, wet-pavement traction is not reduced enough from dry pavement to preclude the stress and damage the owner's manual warns against. It may REDUCE the amount of stress compared to dry pavement, but certainly not as much as off-road surfaces and snow/ice-covered pavement which allow for far more wheel spin.

 

[TheNurm]

I think we are agreeing here from what I am reading, I don't think you should use slippery mode for wet roads, as wet roads aren't that slippery. putting the Badlands 4wd selector on and driving in normal mode is fine for anything past dry paved roads. Any time you are using a mode that aggressively pulses the ABS etc you are putting more wear on your brakes than normal or normal and 4wd modes. The slippery mode shows snow and ice... use accordingly.

 

[Mark S.]

I think we are agreeing here from what I am reading...

Except that I don't believe you should use 4WD on wet pavement. It's not slippery enough to allow wheel spin that would relieve stress on the PTU and other driveline components.

 

[TheNurm]

Yes I just think 4wd would be a better choice than Slippery mode, ideally just do it in normal.

 

[NMhunter]

I went on a hunt last weekend in terrible road conditions. I was plowing snow in the center and had some ice and snow in the ruts. I tried slippery mode a couple of times. I ran on snow, slush, and mud, and the Badlands performed flawlessly through it all. I need to go to the car wash. I'm not fond of the carpet lining in the wheel wells.