Torsen stuff

[Michael Stricker <stricker@ll.mit.edu>]

Hi;

My message regarding the Torsen drive train was in regard to a recent 
experience I had...I was in a situation where I was going down a hill and 
the whole road turned to ICE.  I drove my car as gracefully as I could 
such that the passenger's side of the car( front and rear wheels) were on 
soft powder snow and the driver's side wheels were still on ice.  My 
theory was that I would have traction via the passenger wheels and thus 
would be able to have some control.  Needless to say, my car didn't move 
at all.  I agree, that with all four wheels on a flat icy surface, I can 
accelerate slowly but in the situation I was in, NO GO.  The experience I 
had with the TORSEN set-up in my 90 Coupe was vastly different than what 
I had expected and what I have experienced in my older Quattros with the 
manually lockable differentials.  

This led me to my question/comment.  The other thing I've noticed is that 
the cars with Torsen will hydroplane whereas the older cars never 
did...even with tires that were virtually bald.

I am contemplating swapping out my Torsen equipped transmission and 
replacing it with one containing a center differential.  Other vehicles 
use this Torsen feature (such as the HUMMER) but perhaps they have the 
torque bias set at different levels.

That's about it.

Mike Stricker
1990 Quattro Coupe
1993 Merlin EL (road)
1993 Raleigh John Tomac Signature

P.S. It's time for some 2 wheel racing!