blabla on AWD

[Jens]

Hi Ti Kan and Kwattro and Peter!

[Ti Kan]
> VW's previous AWD nomenclature is "Syncro", not "Synchro" (drop the 'h').
Outch! You are right. (I just looked it up if it is the samne in Europe:
Absolutely!)
Well, what can I say for my defence? 
"Officer, it was late and I don't car to much about synchro. Please!"
;)

> I think some of us might find it a bit uneasy on the eyes if someone
> keeps spelling 'quattro' wrong :-).
Well, I see that all over the classifieds here. Some person with no idea
sits on the telephone and taskes the classifieds via it. So quattro
becomes _everything_ from quatro over kwattro to kwatroh :( ;)

Kwattro told me about Subaru and me having forgotten it.
Pretty right! As the old ones had non-permanent AWD and I don't know
about the new ones (some use a Visco I think), I have omitted Subaru.
I also left out Volvo, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Citroen, Peugeot,...
Of course, Subaru is so big, I should have mentioned it.
If anyone is willing to do a question-answer thing for those, do it,
perhaps I'll take it on my site.

Peter asked about:
>>
In my job (Automotive R&D) I 
have seen older Haldex brochures that show the thing setup as a rear
diff. 
 The power comes in through the pinion, turns the ring gear, and then
two 
separate Haldex clutches distribute the power to the halfshafts.  I have 
seen some newer brochures that show it as a single clutch that is
mounted 
between the prop shaft and the pinion, then a more conventional open or 
limited slip diff. for the side to side bias.
<<
Ok, the Audi TT (and other family members) have the second version. (As
Ti Kan already said.) Honestly, I don't know of any production car
using/having used the Haldex as a side-to-side diff. Any insights on
that would be _very_ welcome! But the TT has it mounted next to the rear
diff, not the front one like the old syncros (h tried to slip in again).
Technically, I can understand it being used side-to-side, as it somehow
works as an electronically controlled locking diff. 
The Haldex works like a clutch with adjustable slip (They call it
limited slip coupling LSC). So it is no diff, you have to take great
pain (as you told: two Haldex couplings, one for every side!) in making
a very well working rear diff out of it, I would think. But when you can
freely adjust the two Haldex, you should need no central diff, right?

I tried going to
www.haldex-traction.com
look for yourself(s).
(No helpful info on the mother site www.haldex.com)

BTW: Is it a clutch or a coupling? And what is the difference?

CU
Jens

'90 Audi 100 Sport 2
'81 Audi 100 2-door (waiting to get restored)
http://www.audistory.com