Re: A4 Electronic locking diffs...

[Jay@aol.com]

Dan Masi <dan_masi@mentorg.com> wrote:

On Oct 18,  8:31am, PDQSHIP@aol.com wrote:

> > Open diffs send more power to the spinning
> > wheel, limited slips "lock" the other side when wheel slip is sensed....
  Me
> > thinks you might be confused....
> 
> Actually, no, he's not confused... technically, he's got it
> right.   
[Dan's excellent explanation snipped]

Actually, you're both right on these two sentences.  The trouble is that
PDQSHIP confused torque with power elsewhere in his message.  An open diff
sends more *power* to the spinning wheel - that's torque * RPMs.  The wheel
is spinning like crazy.  But the torque, as Dan pointed out, is still close
to zilch, because there's no force to oppose.  The locked diff, by sending
equal power to both wheels, ends up sending more torque to the wheel with
traction.

Whoah.  Did I just post an intelligent statement about torque and
differentials?  I'm the guy who, when the car breaks down, looks under the
hood for something *really* obvious, like a big switch set to "off".  This
Audi is doing strange things to me..

Jay Levitt
96 "U GTMAIL" A4Q (hold the radio, hold the center console, hold the
underdash)
Ex-95 Infiniti "PLUS ONE" Q45a, 92 "NDGO GUY" Stanza, 
89 Sentra, 79 "I XPLODE" Pinto, 74 Riviera.  (catch the trend?)