[Gunkk]

Originally Posted by Standard

Does stabilitrak protect from this even if traction control is turned off?

Yes.

TC helps keep the rear tires from spinning when going forward (rear tires breaking loose and rotating vs. ground). Works well in a straight line.

Stabilitrak helps keep the whole car from spinning (yaw control) when TC is insufficient at keeping the car stable around corners.

Both systems will take over the throttle and braking (ABS) to do what they think they need do. But each uses various inputs and ouputs a bit differently based on circumstances (TC typically doesn't use the yaw sensor, for example).

- I would like to know if a stock ZL1's 'safeties' protect from going into a spin pedal down driving in a straight line, or if nothing being absolute, somehow quantify the protection or recovery afforded a driver who gets off the gas once spin starts. Also, if the car would take the power off and protect a driver even who stays *on* the gas (presuming leaving stabilitrak nannies fully on).

A ZL1 makes full torque around 3-4k RPM. This is easily achievable during a hard launch in 1st gear at a stoplight before you get across the intersection.

Cold stock tires *will* break loose at 650 ft-lbs.

Stabilitrak will usually prevent a car from rotating (yaw control) during turning while on the throttle on dry pavement. You'll notice a severe power cut when the back end starts to break loose. It happens so quickly at 650ft-lbs you realize that you would otherwise lose control of the car and spin without it. Will it keep you from wrecking your car? No. But it will pull back hard on the reigns when it kicks in.

- I would like to know how suspension modes impact this - Tour, Sport, Track

Suspension mode affects Stabilitrak very, very little. ENGINE MODE (not suspension mode) affects this much more. Sport will let the tires break loose a little (delays onset of TC and reduces effect of TC). Tour and Track will not.

- does the inability of the rear of the car to sink down a bit on acceleration in stiffer modes make this worse?

Not enough to matter on the street compared to engine mode or tire temp. Many drag strip folks like tour mode to allow a little more weight transfer to the rear to help with 60ft times.

I find myself adjusting suspension much more for road conditions than for performance... but when I drive my car I'm rarely over 6/10ths effort.

Trying to go 10/10ths is dangerous at 650ft-lbs... no way you want to try that on the street. Street conditions are no where near safe enough and speed limits are easily passed in seconds.

- At higher RPM when getting off the gas is basically braking the car, does getting completely off the gas in this situation make it *worse* just making the sideways-moving rears now float over the road? So should you dial back the gas and hold it at some midpoint?

Modulated throttle inputs (slower throttle position changes) are almost always better than binary throttle inputs (WOT or nothing).

- My questions pertain to safety during straight line acceleration - I figure they partially translate; but I respect that corners have so much more to it that I'm not asking that here now.

Respect the 650ft-lbs, or it will kill you and others. Especially on stock ZL1 tires ... and when wet or cold they can be rather dangerous even at mild throttle inputs.

If you want to learn the car and its limits, pay a professional instructor for a driver mod (i.e. driving class) at a local track. And don't forget your track insurance.

A cars n coffee is perhaps the single worst place to test your and the car's limits.