karinvail Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 I haven't had an operational hill hold on any Soob since my original Soob (an 85 that I had from 88-91). I loved the hill hold and never had a problem with it. But, I'm seeing a lot of posts where people are talking about removing the hill hold? Why? My current Soob has the cable snipped, but my parts car has an intact cable I was thinking of trying to swap over, but I'm wondering why so many people are removing theirs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthWet Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 I can't speak for others, but will anyways. I think the general reason for removing the hillholder is that it is not really needed for offroad, complicates the brake system, and poses another place of brake failure. Me, I like it. My wife liked it even more. If you plan on doing much city driving I would keep it and makei it work right. Very comforting to know it is there in case some fool climbs up your bumper on a hill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archemitis Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 i had to move mine for a motor swap, thats the only reason i would see to ditch it. but... i never used one, and i've driven subarus since 97, they all had them that worked. i just dont use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 I used it once after I learned I had it and went "WHOA THATS COOL" then I never used it again. Another cool option on an old Subaru that hardly any other vehicles came with but for some reason I never use it. I have no issue just letting off the brake and getting going on a hill; even really REALLY steeep hill climbs offroad where someone stops at the peak and forgets you are still behind them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HattoriHanzo Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 It is a cool item for sure, but you have to adjust it alot to make it work properly, I usually remove it from my cars, It seems like more of a feature for the novice driver, plus if the cable ever snapped or if it otherwise failed whilst using it you could damage your car and someone elses too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 I'll step in... I hate the HH clutch! I think it's dangerous in an off-road application! Let me put you in a place where you might get in over you head quickly... Your attempting a long very steep climb. Some wheel slipping is occuring because of the loose conditions. You make it almost to the top and start spining...(I know this sounds far fetched because Subies have such great traction but bear with me)...You have just "spun out", you instinctively hit the brakes and you put in the clutch and assess what to do next...You can't turn around because to too narrow and steep. Your car is now is now beginning to slide backwards on the loose rocks. The only option is to let the car roll back down the hill...easyier said than done with a HH clutch. The natural reaction is to hold the clutch and release the brake just a bit and inch your way back down the hill, right? It ain't gonna happen with the HH clutch! Your going to find yourself with your front wheels locked up and sliding backwards...(when your wheels are locked they won't allow you to steer or straighten the car out--they just slide backwards--or even worse sideways!). The only way your going to gain control of your car (which is sliding currently gaining speed backwards) is to put it in neutral and then hit the brake again, disableing your HH clutch and allowing the wheels to roll and gaining full control of your brakes, then and only then, allowing you to true out the car as your sliding backwards... A lot to think about in a panic state of mind...? HH clutch is a great gimmick for city driving but off-road it may take you by supprise when you least need it... My HH clutch broke in 1984 and I've nerver fixed or missed it... My .02... Glenn 82 SubaruHummer--NO HH Clutch! 01 Forester--NO HH Clutch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodsWagon Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 Well I like it. I've found on my cars, you only have to let the clutch up a bit to pop it off. It seems reliable, cause it still worked on the 86 that dissapeared in a cloud of rust. It only locks up one front and one rear, ever notice how the car stands higher and then drops a bit when you release the hill holder? that means a front an rear are both holding the car. And seeing as I have a hard time fitting my feet in around the pedals, size 15 boots and all, the less fancy footwork I have to do the better. I use the handbrake in cars that have it, and in others, I just dump the clutch and punch the gas. Mabe I'm just not good enough, but its a good crutch to have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingbobdole Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 My XT6 doesnt have it due to me doing the tranny swap and being lazy. I agree that it is very neat, great for people just learing how to drive a stick. My 87 wagon NEEDS it. The thing has soo little power that if you let it roll back even slightly while going up a real steep hill, you either slip the hell out of the clutch or stall it. Its also fun to scare people with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 (I know this sounds far fetched because Subies have such great traction but bear with me) Glenn 82 SubaruHummer--NO HH Clutch! 01 Forester--NO HH Clutch! Not far fetched at all. I've done lots of hill climbs I couldn't make the first or second try and had to back down for another run. Third time is the charm though! It's really fun backing down hill climbs that have turns and trees in them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaskansubaru Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 How do you find out if you have a hill-hold or not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A_DuB Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 Stop on a really steep hill and put the clutch in and see if you start rollin backwards:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 Stop on a really steep hill and put the clutch in and see if you start rollin backwards:lol: Gotta enguage it first. Come to a stop on a hill. Push in clutch. Then release and press the brake pedal firmly to set it. Should hear it click under the hood and you will be stopped w/o the brake pedal held down. Now you can put your foot back over the gas pedal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alaskansubaru Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 Stop on a really steep hill and put the clutch in and see if you start rollin backwards:lol: Thanks I'll try it Smile, everyone will wonder what you're up to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
All_talk Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 I'll step in... I hate the HH clutch! I think it's dangerous in an off-road application! Let me put you in a place where you might get in over you head quickly... Your attempting a long very steep climb. Some wheel slipping is occuring because of the loose conditions. You make it almost to the top and start spining...(I know this sounds far fetched because Subies have such great traction but bear with me)...You have just "spun out", you instinctively hit the brakes and you put in the clutch and assess what to do next...You can't turn around because to too narrow and steep. Your car is now is now beginning to slide backwards on the loose rocks. The only option is to let the car roll back down the hill...easyier said than done with a HH clutch. The natural reaction is to hold the clutch and release the brake just a bit and inch your way back down the hill, right? It ain't gonna happen with the HH clutch! Your going to find yourself with your front wheels locked up and sliding backwards...(when your wheels are locked they won't allow you to steer or straighten the car out--they just slide backwards--or even worse sideways!). The only way your going to gain control of your car (which is sliding currently gaining speed backwards) is to put it in neutral and then hit the brake again, disableing your HH clutch and allowing the wheels to roll and gaining full control of your brakes, then and only then, allowing you to true out the car as your sliding backwards... A lot to think about in a panic state of mind...? HH clutch is a great gimmick for city driving but off-road it may take you by supprise when you least need it... My HH clutch broke in 1984 and I've nerver fixed or missed it... My .02... Glenn 82 SubaruHummer--NO HH Clutch! 01 Forester--NO HH Clutch! Its all about options... I will agree that with some experience the hill holder is unnecessary in most situations. But with proper adjustment it can be set up so that it only works when you want it to. Now under normal use I don’t bury my clutch into the carpet, I just move it passed the “cam over point” to full disengagement, shift, then engage. My HH is adjusted so that it ONLY catches with the last 1/2" or so of clutch pedal stroke, well passed the disengagement point, and then it normally takes a bit of a stab on the brake pedal to set it. I have never had it catch when I didn’t want it to and it’s always there when I want it. Works great for me. Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrKrazy Posted March 15, 2005 Share Posted March 15, 2005 To each his own... I personally love it also, living in Colorado most places you drive are hills or mountains so I use mine all the time. Not that I don't know how to drive a stick but just because I'm half lazy (ok more than half) and if I don't have to hold down the brake pedal while sitting on a hill waiting for a light to turn green...well I think that's one nice option . But I do see that it could be a problem while off-roading but then again I highly doubt Subaru had offroading in mind while designing it. I have had one go bad on me on a previous Sube and that wasn't cool but I should've been paying attention to my brake fluid levels and I would've known before it fully went out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Left_coast*9 Posted March 16, 2005 Share Posted March 16, 2005 Ok, chalk another vote for the LOVE IT column of the hill holder poll. I have it on both my XT6 and GL-10T wagon....it's easy to use, convenient, trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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