Re: A4 Electronic locking diffs...

[Andy Poling <andy@realbig.com>]

On Mon, 14 Oct 1996, Dan Masi wrote:
> On Oct 12, 12:25pm, Andy Poling wrote:
[...]
> > I still think the ultimate solution would be Torsen diffs in
> > all three locations, front, center and rear.  Can anyone offer
> > a reason why this is a bad idea?
> 
> 1) Weight
> 2) Cost
> 3) Space
> 4) Fuel efficiency
> 
> It'd be the ultimate solution if it didn't have any of those
> drawbacks.  I guess the nice thing about EDL is that it
> almost comes for free, in terms of hardware.

I, for one, would gladly trade a little more weight, fuel and $$ for that
kind of traction.  

Wait a minute... I already have.  That looks just like the list of drawbacks
to AWD.

I don't understand the fuel efficiency issue though - I wasn't aware that
the Torsen diff imposed significant frictional losses.

In any case, I'm dying for our first big snow so I can see just how well it
all works together.  It'll be interesting to contrast it with the
old-fashioned 4WD on my truck with no traction assist whatsoever.  At least
I won't have to get out to lock and unlock the hubs all the time...

-Andy

'91 Miata: "ZIP"          '96 A4 Quattro: "ZOOM"       '84 Yam RZ350: "ZING"  
                        '88 Bronco II 4WD: "ZZZZZ"