ques re: 4WD

["Grant Lenahan" <glenahan@notes.cc.bellcore.com>]

Joe asks:

>>if you run the quattro's in 4wd like they tend to do for rally's and
other autocross events doesn't this tend to wear down the gears in the
transfer cases and differentals??? That is the fact with my truck??? can
someone help me out with this??<<

Issue #1:  Audis are always "4WD".  Always.
The difference between "4WD" and "AWD" is a floating center differential (of 
some type)
that allows slippage and thus minimal gear/tyre/driveshaft wear.

Issue #2:   If you lock the center differential (possible on pre-1988 Audis), 
you increase
tire wear greatly, gear wear, well, who knows.  I've run 100s of miles on dry
roads at high speed with locked center diffs.

Grant