Electronic Stability Control

[shadyxr]

Hi all, With new models arriving fitted with ESC, ESP etc controls to help the driver it would appear this may cause some issues when modifying suspension. Whiteline have a world first "Black Box" which sounds interesting. Read on.

G’day,

Its a very exciting time for us as we’re finally able to talk about something that we’ve been working on for over 4 years, the Whiteline suspension Blackbox.

Stability Control systems like DSC and ESP are great safety advances that help the general driver keep the vehicle under control while cornering and changing direction in general. It works in tandem with the ABS system and uses many of the same components. Most new cars sold today have DSC/ESP either standard or as an option and in the US it must be fitted on new vehicles by law from 2011 onward. That’s a great thing for the consumer but it is an issue for race cars or any enthusiasts that race.

Unfortunately the system forces a particular handling or chassis control model on the driver and that generally means understeer, always understeer and sometimes in big amounts regardless of what you do with changing mechanical components. To make matters worse, the ideal “handling model” designed by the electronic boffins at the car company changes from make to make to model so it’s a moving target. Being a good innovation, its built in safety bias means it works with the ABS which makes it difficult to turn off. And don’t be fooled by the fitment of a DSC/ESP off switch on the dash, in most cases it doesn’t actually turn off the DSC, just dumbs it down. But apart from that, DSC/ESP can actually work for you even while racing so what if you could simply tune it........

Enter the Whiteline Blackbox. Our design lets you actually tune the factory DSC/ESP system. Use a simple knob to tune the understeer or overtseer bias in the cabin, program the amount of intervention or simply turn it off completely while leaving the ABS fully functional. This patented, world first is the only way we know to tune the factory stability control system to suit your preference, setup or motorsport event. You can see the system working on this YouTube clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyYsqIvN2rw and you can take a look at the attached PDF file to read more about it with current application details. We hope you like it.

The catalogue has also been recently updated to version 3.2 and the latest PDF version is available for download at http://www.whiteline.com.au/docs/catalogues/WL_0350.pdf . Apart from showcasing the latest Blackbox applications, it also has a number of additions and updates for new applications like the Golf V and Passat, MY08 WRX and many other small changes.

Again, thanks for your support and we look forward to more Blackbox applications in the new future.

Best regards

Jim and Andrew

Whiteline - Flatout

support@redranger.com.au

<<152_HBM.pdf>>

[SCRIBR]

I don't really think that would be very legal

Your insurance company for one would not be happy if they give your car a certain rating because of it's 5 star safety rating, because of ESP, & you just go and turn it off & drift into a wall..

[shadyxr]

Your probably right, but is lowering beyond legal limits, edit, exhaust, modified BOV's etc etc legal when it comes to your insurance ??

[shadyxr]

O'h and by the way. As per the article the manufacturer has a switch to turn it off as they do for traction control.

Doesn't seem to bother the insurance companies if they fit it.

Quote "And don’t be fooled by the fitment of a DSC/ESP off switch on the dash, in most cases it doesn’t actually turn off the DSC, just dumbs it down."

[loopism]

... and it only works on about four models of car at the moment. Wonder if they'd ever do it for the Falc? (I doubt it)

[SCRIBR]

you insurance company knows about the button to 'turn off' ESP, so that is already taken into consideration.

[XR06T]

looks pretty cool.. I wonder if it is tuneable so you can tell it you have stiffer springs/swaybars etc..