What's the diff? torsen tech...

[quk@isham-research.demon.co.uk (Phil Payne)]

In message <c=NZ%a=_%p=CLANDNZ%l=CLWLG01-980225212130Z-4957@clwlg01.computerland.co.nz> David Eaton writes:

> i've had another think about this issue.  this is not a manhood thing,
> but i've certainly overcooked my ur-quattro and learned the hard way
> about how to treat it.  i imagine that phil is the same.  we both
> haven't been bitten.  not trying hard enough?  fair enough, but i don't
> think so.

I come home regularly via the A14/A509.  Late at night.  It's three lanes 
wide.  I hit the end of the 'off' ramp at around sixty, and power into the 
apex.  For fun, I sometimes try and stay in the inside lane.  Otherwise, I've 
got two to drift into.  Obviously, I don't do any of this if there's anyone 
else around.  But I _regularly_  go round that system right on the limit.  This 
isn't to be confused with the abilities of a racing driver, who can probably 
take _any_ bend at close to the limit on sight, relying on reactions.  I _know_ 
this bend, and play around on it on occasions.  I've no idea what 'TORSEN 
hunting' means.  I've never noticed any phenomenon that the term could 
describe. 

> also no-one in the us has yet had experience of a torsen ur-quattro to
> directly compare.  hey you know where i live ;-)

Same invitation applies.
 
> 3rd data point is the use of the circuit versus the road.  my 'rr' has
> had little circuit time (thank you walter) and didn't 'bite', but scott
> has spent much more circuit time, with more highly 'tweaked' cars than i
> (or phil) have.

Mine is absolutely stock.

> 4th data point is that there is a lack of understanding about the
> details of the torsen operation (relative slip to distribute torque, the
> speed of the diff to go from one extreme to another etc), which is
> clouding the issue.

Very much so.  The general descriptions of TORSEN (thank you whoever put that 
page up) suggest it is highly customisable.  What did Audi do to it?

-- 
 Phil Payne
 UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club