Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle including friction control device

A vehicle control system for use in controlling operation of a vehicle, said system comprising:

• at least one friction control device configured to operate in a first of a plurality of friction modes, said at least one friction control device comprising one of a suspension damper, a control arm ball joint, a strut bearing, a steering rack guide, and an outer tie rod ball joint;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to said at least one friction control device, said controller configured to:
• detect a vehicular speed of the vehicle;
• change operation of said at least one friction control device from the first friction mode to a second of the plurality of friction modes in response to the vehicular speed exceeding a first threshold speed value, the second friction mode associated with a higher level of resistance than the first friction mode;
• and
• change operation of said at least one friction control device from the second friction mode to the first friction mode in response to the vehicular speed falling below a second threshold speed value that is less than the first threshold speed value.

A controller for use in controlling operation of at least one friction control device operatively coupled to a vehicle and communicatively coupled to the controller, said controller comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory device communicatively coupled to the processor;
• and
• computer-executable instructions stored on the memory device that, when executed by said processer, cause said controller to:
• detect a vehicular speed of the vehicle;
• change operation of the at least one friction control device from a first of a plurality of friction modes to a second of the plurality of friction modes in response to the vehicular speed exceeding a first threshold speed value, wherein the second friction mode is associated with a higher level of resistance than the first friction mode;
• and
• change operation of the at least one friction control device from the second friction mode to the first friction mode in response to the vehicular speed falling below a second threshold speed value that is less than the first threshold speed value.