Re: quattro-digest V4 #1913

[Dave Eaton <dave.eaton@minedu.govt.nz>]

gidday mike,

in short, the generation 1 quattro system is very sensitive to the loss of
traction from 1 wheel.  in this eventuality all torque tends to go through this
wheel (which is spinning).

this means that the wheel tends to spin and stay spinning, and that, in the
event of traction being restored, you have very large torque shifts going on. 
you'd have to be mickey schumacher to control this sort of thing...

the answer is to lock the centre *always* if driving enthusiatically (ie. wet
or dry).  you will get more tyre wear and tear, but the "bite" won't be as
big...

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q

>------------------------------
>
>Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 08:18:24 -0800
>From: cyclops@mindlink.bc.ca (cyclops)
>Subject: christine returns pt xvii
>
>no dave i didn't have the centre locked. that may have been part of the
>problem too, but the roads were clear and dry until i hit the sand covered
>turn. i couldn't anticipate the sandy turn and if it had been dry as was the
>rest of the road i think the drive train would have been rebelling to make
>that turn if it were locked. i'm the neophyte quattro driver here. would you
>drive with your centre locked under dry conditions dave? btw for the past
>two winters i have practised skid control and techniques regularly on the
>snow with locked and unlocked, which is probably why i was able to keep it
>on the road. i look forward to your response.
>
>mike mulholland
>86 5kcdtq