2001 AU11 won't go up our steep driveway - Page 2

dippy1 · 14-03-2010, 05:56 PM

No, going up it happens pretty well at beginning of the incline and coming down it just slides. So concrete would be better with or without the aggregate, do you think?

eMpTy · 14-03-2010, 06:09 PM

Looking at those pics, hitting the driveway with a pressure washer would be a good start.
Ours used to look just as black, hit it with the karcher using a cutting tip and it came up bright white, exposed the ag alot more and gave it alot more grip.

dippy1 · 14-03-2010, 06:17 PM

did you have the same problem? It is so annoying. We are going to try that first up, if that fails will work through the list, lol.

rodderz · 14-03-2010, 06:34 PM

Looking at the pics it's exposed aggregate concrete, probably an older one. It's because the stones it it being round, smooth and exposed that makes it slippery. If it were normal stipple finished or troweled conc it probably wouldn't be as bad.

I would still suggest a few sawcuts on the slipperier sections, after a very good clean with a cleaner for road grime and mould, and also a pressure washer. At depends on how much you want to outlay to fix the problem.

bodes-sh · 14-03-2010, 06:42 PM

what brand tyres are on it? that driveway doesn't look too bad as far as the surface goes. the tyres might have good tread on them, but they might be old or cheap nasty ones. i wouldn't have thought you would have any trouble getting up and down there

dippy1 · 14-03-2010, 06:59 PM

Well rodderz, we do have to fix the problem as the car can't stay on the street. So we will try your suggestion after the drive has been cleaned. Also, the tyres are probably cheap ones as the car came from a car yard and they don't give too much away. Although, I have to admit the guys have been great. We also bought the taurus from them and never had a complaint. They are also trying to figure out what we can do with the drive.

mik · 14-03-2010, 07:54 PM

your drive looks to allready have a grippy surface , obviously its not in the wet, perhaps some non slip coating on the drive would be the go, there are some very good coatings around, in a factory i worked for many years ago we had a non slip epoxy coating good enough to drive fork lifts over it was also acid proof,it might be worth a look.

dippy1 · 14-03-2010, 08:01 PM

gosh, that sound good too!! I have been given so many great ideas today and am so grateful but, where to start??
Thank you,
Lynn.

craigr1801 · 14-03-2010, 09:17 PM

I,ve been in the concrete idustry 25 yrs and seen this before,The surface may look suitable but you have a mixture of round quartz exposed aggregate and crap on the surface and when wet would be like running on marbles
You need to remove the latence from the surface by either acid etching (watch the plants) or a good washing down with a high pressure washer.

**GasoLane** · 14-03-2010, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dippy1

here are some photos of the drive, hope they are clear enough :eclipsee_

Yep, that looks like the same type I have. Although I only have a very short steep bit.

Looks nice but even trying to walk on it when wet is exciting

I think Rodderz and craigr1801 have the right idea.

DoreSlamR · 14-03-2010, 10:01 PM

Damn that is an evil driveway, not much room for error!

My suggestion is to put a heavy duty bull bar on the front with a winch.

Problem solved!

skelly · 15-03-2010, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dippy1

here are some photos of the drive, hope they are clear enough :eclipsee_

well id suggest buying a crane

**Mont5.0** · 15-03-2010, 10:18 PM

move house

illusivedreams · 16-03-2010, 01:24 PM

Had the same problem on my Au.

Go for Bigger tyres 225 -235 in the rears.
LSD will definetly help as you will have an extra wheel pushing 2 insted of 1.

Also replace your rear shocks to stiffen up the rear as this will help stop the car from giving an easier path of resistance to the slipping wheel.

Do all 3 you will get up the driveway no problems,

Your surface is also a slipper one so consider coating with a send mix or tactile tiles.

illusivedreams · 16-03-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigr1801

I,ve been in the concrete idustry 25 yrs and seen this before,The surface may look suitable but you have a mixture of round quartz exposed aggregate and crap on the surface and when wet would be like running on marbles
You need to remove the latence from the surface by either acid etching (watch the plants) or a good washing down with a high pressure washer.

+1 on top of my comments

:

rosebush · 16-03-2010, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dippy1

We have a 2001 Au11 with dedicated LPG. We bought the car a week ago and love it BUT we have a short steep (about 45 deg) driveway and the car will not go up it in the wet!!! When we park the car at the top of the drive when it's dry we can't get down again if it rains. We have been advised to put a Limited Slip Diff in but we are unsure if this will work.
Any suggestions please?

:

I had the same problem with my car...only worked with more weight even then it kept spinning so gave up

troystanton78 · 19-03-2010, 02:41 PM

i'm a concrete cutter, the saw cuts would probably work but it would be costly unless you know someone with a saw

Donny · 19-03-2010, 07:07 PM

Rotten slippery crap that exposed aggregate is.
To look at it you would think it looks really grippy, but when wet its the total opposite.
Even walking on wet aggregate with any kind of decent slope can cause people to slip and fall over.
The stuff is dangerous an shouldnt be allowed to be laid on steep driveways IMHO.

Id be looking at some non slip methods like the aformentioned acid washing the surface to roughen it up. But this will make the surface rougher when walked on in bare feet.
Or if the place is yours an not a rental an you can afford it, rip it up and re do it all, and add some camber in the fall of the driveway on any corners that look slippery when wet and see if you can soften the incline angles at all with some re-contouring of the profile. Id probly also look at a rough surface bitumen too.