Controls > Dynamics > Slippery Surface - huge improvement for CyberBeast front drive thuds

[speedstuff]

Other beast owners may have already been doing this, but I have just discovered the difference.

I am in a rural area with rough asphalt roads and have dealt with the CB specific front end 'THUD's since day one.

I have recently started hitting the slippery surface slider as habit now when I start the truck.

At least 80%+ of the annoying thuds are gone from the crappy road I drive daily. Something about this setting is the magic sauce I needed.

Does anyone know if there is some un-documented way to have it come on by default every time? If not would be a great feature if it was added.

If you are a 'thudding' beast and haven't given it a shot yet, try it and let me know if its better for you as well?

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[Gaximus]

Can you do a launch with it enabled. I get that thud most during a launch. Although I don’t mind it, it would be nice if it didn’t do it.

 

[speedstuff]

Can you do a launch with it enabled. I get that thud most during a launch. Although I don’t mind it, it would be nice if it didn’t do it.

Haven't tried that - will give it a shot today

 

[PungoteagueDave]

I’m betting that doing so reduces efficiency/range. As you probably know, the CB and AWD normally power themselves with one axle (front for CB rear for AWD) until the other axle is called upon, such as when launching or in slippery conditions. However, the AWD has mechanical lockers on both axles, so is better off-road, as the CB has only a rear mechanical locker. By putting it in slippery mode I suspect you are engaging the rear motors by default instead of as-needed, and you may be putting the front motors into an electronic traction control mode, ready for slick conditions. This may be compensate for the drivetrain slop, but add wear on the drivetrain, use more battery, and possibly reduce tire life. As it’s a CB, the “investment thesis” was always about straight line power anyway, and not off-road or long range, so none of that may matter to you. And it’s only a theory, albeit a likely scenario explaining your experience.

 

[Qixer01]

However, the AWD has mechanical lockers on both axles, so is better off-road, as the CB has only a rear mechanical locker.

I’m kinda confused by this. I have a Beast, I have an option to lock the front differential. You specifically say mechanical lockers, does the beast not have a mechanical locker in the front? Can you please provide documentation to support this?

 

[RonSol]

Beast is mechanical only on the front axle. AWD is mechanical on both axels.

 

[Qixer01]

I’m betting that doing so reduces efficiency/range. As you probably know, the CB and AWD normally power themselves with one axle (front for CB rear for AWD) until the other axle is called upon, such as when launching or in slippery conditions. However, the AWD has mechanical lockers on both axles, so is better off-road, as the CB has only a rear mechanical locker. By putting it in slippery mode I suspect you are engaging the rear motors by default instead of as-needed, and you may be putting the front motors into an electronic traction control mode, ready for slick conditions. This may be compensate for the drivetrain slop, but add wear on the drivetrain, use more battery, and possibly reduce tire life. As it’s a CB, the “investment thesis” was always about straight line power anyway, and not off-road or long range, so none of that may matter to you. And it’s only a theory, albeit a likely scenario explaining your experience.

So I pulled this from the owners manual.

 

[Qixer01]

Beast is mechanical only on the front axle. AWD is mechanical on both axels.

I see that from reading the manual after my post. beast has two motors in rear so why would you want or need a mechanical locker back there? Seams as though the beast would be better off road due to the ability of applying different torque to each rear wheel as needed.
I have yet to take my CT off road. Looking forward to it when I can.

 

[Patriot]

Joshua, you are right that the virtual locker isn't necessarily worse than a mechanical locker, but it depends on them getting the behavior right in the software. Mechanical lockers are more proven and simple. If they get the software right, a virtual locker should perform just as well as a mechanical locker. When the CB was released, the software wasn't ready. It is enabled now and works, but I can't say if it is as good as a mechanical locker because I haven't tested it.

The annoying thud seems to come from the fact that the CB is mostly front wheel drive most of the time. Engaging slippery surface mode shifts some/more power to the rear wheels, which reduces the thud. Maybe some day, the geniuses at Tesla will figure out a way to adjust this through the software automagically.

 

[speedstuff]

this is not about lockers (AWD or CB) - this is about the fact that the CB exhibits a clunk/thud on certain un-even road conditions. (due to the fact it is FWD or at least FW-Bias power by default) in normal modes.

Hitting the 'slippery surface' slider adds some power bias to the RWD portion and gets rid of a LOT of the FWD terrain thuds/bangs. I would love to have that on by 'default' and not have to select it every time when i drive the CT

 

[CyberWalrus]

I wished they made the Beast with dual permanent magnet motors in the rear. Since induction motors are used for free wheeling during efficiency. I am guessing the permanent magnet motors are too large to fit two on rear axle, or less efficient than two free wheeling induction motors.

or have a PM in the rear and two induction in the front. The two induction allows torque vectoring. This would make it better at cornering.

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