Hi Does anybody know if you can turn on-off the haldex 4x4 on a 09 FL Octavia Scout to save tyres (the rear) as all of mine are wearing at the same rate and I only need the extra grip in winter or on grass when towing. cheers - Stuart

That's what happens with 4WD; even wear on all tyres as they're all being driven.

I don't know a way of permanently disabling it, no. Not safely anyway, without resorting to removing fuses which I don't recommend!

It doesn't drive all four wheels all the time anyhow. Most of its life it will be running 2WD unless the ESP detects wheel slip and then transfers drive.

So if all four are wearing evenly, perhaps you're making use of Haldex more often than you think...

It doesn't drive all four wheels all the time anyhow. Most of its life it will be running 2WD unless the ESP detects wheel slip and then transfers drive.

I thought the haldex 4 equipped fl models ran 10% to the rear wheels all the time and transferred more when applicable?!

I thought the haldex 4 equipped fl models ran 10% to the rear wheels all the time and transferred more when applicable?!

Correct!

Removing a fuse or finding another way or casung the Haldex to go into fault mode is the only way I can think of - and I wouldn't recommend either.

My Scout wears a little faster on the front - I guess from getting the majority of the drive, steering and engine weight. Last time I checked the fronts were down to 4.5mm and backs 5.5 at 14,500 miles.

The Haldex 4 on the facelift Scout is not just reactive by the way - the clutch closes whenever you accelerate quickly. It takes inputs from the accelerator pedal, brake, ABS, etc., so slip is only one factor in determining whether the clutch is open or closed. There is some stuff on the web if you google Haldex 4.

Edited 30 March, 201214 yr by London Les

I get 35k out of a set of 4 tyres on my Scout which seems reasonable to me.

Winters went on 7k ago and still got 7mm left.

Edited 30 March, 201214 yr by Anddenton

Switching off Haldex won't save tyres. If you could disable RWD then the fronts would wear faster. The same amount of wear would be shared between 2 tyres instead of 4.

Haldex only sends more power to the rear to avoid wheel slip. If all four tyres are wearing evenly, then you are using the Haldex every time you set off. Only a change in driving style will make your tyres last longer.

In theory the Haldex system should give you more life on your front than the 2WD system ,any acceleration means front wheels could slip and hence wear rubber ,where the Hadeex detects slip in milliseconds and should prevent wear. Also no need to switch tyres for even wear.

Hi All, thanks for all the replys but I am coming up to 22k and there is about 2mm on most of the tyres ! I am not a boy racer and I am the opposite, when I set off in first gear there is something holding it back as a big flat spot comes in, I go slowly over speed bumps, and there isn't 90% more wear on the fronts ! maybe its time to book it in at the dealers AGAIN for them to have a look at it before it runs out of warrenty in July ? cheers - Stuart

I got just shy of 28,000 miles out of my original Dunlop SP Sports, they were right down to the wear bars too (may be even a little below ).

I didn't think that was bad at all - hence I replaced them with a brand new set.

Hi All, thanks for all the replys but I am coming up to 22k and there is about 2mm on most of the tyres ! I am not a boy racer and I am the opposite, when I set off in first gear there is something holding it back as a big flat spot comes in, I go slowly over speed bumps, and there isn't 90% more wear on the fronts ! maybe its time to book it in at the dealers AGAIN for them to have a look at it before it runs out of warrenty in July ? cheers - Stuart

I drive our scout hard, I get about 25% less out of fronts than rears. I would expect to see more wear on the front as they also do most of the breaking. If you are a very steady driver that may go some way to explaining more even wear.

The stability control on the car also uses rear brakes to aid stability.

Personally i would leave it as it is, 22K on a set of tyres isnt that bad, its a heavy old bus.

When changing your tyres a good economy if you drive gently might be to look at other brands, the std fit ones certainly arent cheap

I got just shy of 28,000 miles out of my original Dunlop SP Sports, they were right down to the wear bars too (may be even a little below ).

I didn't think that was bad at all - hence I replaced them with a brand new set.

28000, you drive in an incredibly gentle manner

The wife does!

28000, you drive in an incredibly gentle manner

Over 30000 on my current tyres and still 3mm left on them! Got 70000 out of tyres on my previous Santa Fe

Well its looking like michellin for replacements !

Michelin are usually quite expensive, have you found a good deal?

This has got me thinking. Two of the michelins on mine must have done over 30000miles. They still looked good when i put them back on last month after being on winters. Costco can be reasonable for michelins, but i just use my local independant

I'm pretty sure any attempt to disable the Halidex would be in contravention of type approval and therefore potentially illegal. You would also definitely have an issue with insurance.............

22K+ out of a set of tyres is pretty epic in my book anyway!!

I'm pretty sure any attempt to disable the Halidex would be in contravention of type approval and therefore potentially illegal. You would also definitely have an issue with insurance.............

22K+ out of a set of tyres is pretty epic in my book anyway!!

Jes ye are mad for notifying insurance on everything,u should come to Ireland.

To replace the original tyres are £160 a corner ! going to try costco for a quote as I believe they only do michellin (thats if they do our size), anybody know how I would find out if the haldex was OK apart from scanning it with VCDS ? cheers - Stuart

Jes ye are mad for notifying insurance on everything,u should come to Ireland.

Trust me, if your vehicle is involved in a fatal accident, the vehicle examiner will crawl up it's a*se with a magnifier. All those morons who mod cars and don't tell their insurance comapnies are just asking for trouble. An insurance company will potentially refuse a payout of you stick on side skirts without notifying them so can you imagine what they'd do if they found out a feature integral to the vehicle such as the drivetrain was modified?

Trust me, if your vehicle is involved in a fatal accident, the vehicle examiner will crawl up it's a*se with a magnifier. All those morons who mod cars and don't tell their insurance comapnies are just asking for trouble. An insurance company will potentially refuse a payout of you stick on side skirts without notifying them so can you imagine what they'd do if they found out a feature integral to the vehicle such as the drivetrain was modified?

Agreed. It's head in the sand Ostrich syndrome not telling insurance. A work colleague had a write-off accident, insurance companies agreed blame on both parties so knock-for-knock. This guy is a sensible lad but still bought a Corsa and put Halfrauds alloys on it like all his mates. The insurance company went over it and denied the claim over the alloys because he hadn't told them.

£4000 loss, payout nil, insurance cancelled, no-claims burnt. Only just escaped a conviction for driving without valid insurance. They told him if the accident had been proved his fault the other parties insurance would have pursued him personally for their loss.

You don't say if they're wearing evenly on the rear - have you had your alignment checked?