Best Solution for downhill control on an older 4WD?

Pajtero

Member
just wondering what is going to be better or if anyone has any ideas on a different solution but I want better control while descending a steep hill.

Am I better wiring up a lock up for the torque converter and using that or just getting a rear e locker?

Or has anyone got a smart solution?
 

typhoeus

Well-Known Member
I have an older (25 year old) 4x4 , i just select a lower gear than i think ill need. Idle down slowly. If its really uneven and i think ill lift a wheel, i pull the handbrake partly on before i begin to stop any rear wheel spooling up while in the air.
 

Triton14

Well-Known Member
What's your vehicle model & make, auto or manual, are you towing something??

If not just use 4 wheel low range in 1st or 2nd depending on the steepness.

If your towing the you might need a controller depending on the weight but then what your towing has to be braked.

The majority of the time when I am doing a steep decent I hardly even touch the brakes depending on the type of terrain, but let the gearing do the work for you thats what its there for!

Also in my limited knowledge on the subject as I dont have one but a locker imo is more for ascending grip not descending but I stand to be corrected.
 
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Albynsw

Well-Known Member
A locker isn’t going to assist you on a decent, you want slowest speed preferably without using your brakes. Different make gearboxes respond differently ( my N70 auto Hilux didn’t give as much engine braking as the manuals did )
So basically choosing first gear low range will give you the most control
 

discomatt

Well-Known Member
What has been mentioned above plus if you’re pushing the limits of your car turn on lights, fan and air conditioning.
This all loads up the electrical drain and makes the alternator work plus the air con compressor all put a bit extra load on the engine which reduces over run.
Light and well timed dab on the brakes is also fine, just don’t ride them all the way down
 

Pajtero

Member
Thank you, everyone, for your replies. To answer some questions:

I have a Mitsubishi Pajero Diesel NP Model, and it's an automatic.

I don't do any towing.

I should have mentioned this initially, but the reason I'm asking is because, over the weekend, we went off-road, and even in 1st gear and Low Range, it wasn’t enough to slow the descent appropriately. I hate riding the brakes on descents for obvious reasons, but I didn’t have much of a choice due to the steepness of the slope.

I really should have used the brakes more, but I didn’t. As a result, I hit a rock pretty hard, which caused significant damage to my side steps and mounts, to the point where I had to remove them. It was a complete misjudgment on my part, but I’m now looking for advice on how to have more control in the future without relying so heavily on the brakes.
 

Batts88

Well-Known Member
For the amount of times the average 4wd goes off road adding something to the system isn't worth the hassle especially for the odd time you decend steep terrain. Just use the brakes it's not that difficult that's what petrol vehicle's do a lot more of than a diesel will. Start slow keep an eye on what you're doing if you have larger tyres that won't help either.
Other than that there is an exhaust brake available but comes at a cost which is a bit extreme for that purpose where your right foot can easily control things.
 

Hoyks

Well-Known Member
Hill decent control in modern vehicles is really just leveraging off the fitment of ABS to do the braking and manage the decent speed for you.

Other than manually selecting a low gear in the auto box, dabbing the brakes or holding on the brakes and applying power to drive through them is probably the better option. Locking up the converter at low speed will probably make things less convenient unless you have an ECU to control it all for you.
 

cam04

Well-Known Member
Thank you, everyone, for your replies. To answer some questions: I have a Mitsubishi Pajero Diesel NP Model, and it's an automatic. I don't do any towing. I should have mentioned this initially, but the reason I'm asking is because, over the weekend, we went off-road, and even in 1st gear and Low Range, it wasn’t enough to slow the descent appropriately. I hate riding the brakes on descents for obvious reasons, but I didn’t have much of a choice due to the steepness of the slope. I really should have used the brakes more, but I didn’t. As a result, I hit a rock pretty hard, which caused significant damage to my side steps and mounts, to the point where I had to remove them. It was a complete misjudgment on my part, but I’m now looking for advice on how to have more control in the future without relying so heavily on the brakes.
Hill descent control just works the abs and brakes. If your Pajero has ABS, you are perfectly fine to ride the brakes downhill. The old days of not touching the brakes don’t apply to cars with Electronics.
A few clicks on the handbrake is an old trick but you are kidding yourself if you think it’s better than riding the brake pedal on that car.
 

discomatt

Well-Known Member
The old days of not touching the brakes don’t apply to cars with Electronics.
That was like laws made by government
Blanket rule to cover the lowest common denominator
By all means use your brakes
Don’t cook them , which down hill control on modern cars will also do on long steep descents, don’t use them in very slippery conditions when trying to steer
 

Albynsw

Well-Known Member
The biggest issue with using your brakes as I see it is not cooking them but the increased potential of locking a wheel or wheels which promotes loss of traction.
You have the best control and traction when your wheels are moving and the slower the better
 

Batts88

Well-Known Member
Don't use the handbrake in that situation we should have kept with the American term emergency brake it needs to be in good working order if you ever need it. My wife found that out around 24yrs ago when here brakes failed in an 80km zone trying to stop at traffic lights which she done successfully. I also had the brakes fail on a landcruiser when the brake line severed had to drive 100km back to town.
 

cam04

Well-Known Member
The biggest issue with using your brakes as I see it is not cooking them but the increased potential of locking a wheel or wheels which promotes loss of traction.
You have the best control and traction when your wheels are moving and the slower the better
Without a doubt. Those pesky wombat holes and diagonal wheel lifts promote speed though haha. In the absence of twin lockers and tyres that never lose traction, using the brakes is a bona fide option on cars that have ABS. By definition it is impossible to make them lock up and cause a skid - the car will still run away when there is no traction no matter how many feet you have on the brake pedal.
 

Pajtero

Member
Thank you everyone sounds like I just need to suck it up and use my brakes more. Maybe a brake upgrade would be more appropriate? Only once these ones are shot though. I don’t want to throw money away. Potentially something that disperses heat better? Or maybe I just leave well enough alone lol.
 

discomatt

Well-Known Member
I have an old Discovery, used to be the touring 4by , now is just a bush pig toy
Its been over large portions of the country, it’s done pretty much all the Vic high country, I t has standard gearing and 32 inch tires, it has solid front and rear discs, no ventilation what so ever.
Never once have the brakes overheated to the point of fading
Like I said, well timed use of the brakes is not a issue just be mechanically aware of what your car is doing
 

Batts88

Well-Known Member
Thank you everyone sounds like I just need to suck it up and use my brakes more. Maybe a brake upgrade would be more appropriate? Only once these ones are shot though. I don’t want to throw money away. Potentially something that disperses heat better? Or maybe I just leave well enough alone lol.
Brake pads are cheap and last a long time brake fade shouldn't be much of an issue you can get better quality pads that will stop you better and it will take less pressure on the brake pedal to pull the vehicle up.
My 1st 4wd was a 1975 fj45 a petrol motor they had drum brakes all round you had to lean on the brakes to pull them up and ride them down steep hills but you drove to suit I never had a run away. Plus they were terrible after a water crossing you had to dry them out by doing several brake applications disc are 100% better. Lucky your not in a country that actually has mountains unlike our little hills we have.
 
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