A modest proposal...

[audidudi@mindspring.com (Jeffrey J. Goggin)]

Here's a simple test for those who don't think slip angles alone can affect
a Torsen center diff's transfer of torque between the front and rear wheels.

        1) Find a parking garage with a polished concrete floor.  Roll your
windows down.

        2) Find an area inside the garage sufficiently large so you can
drive your car around in a circle.

        3) Turn the steering wheel to full lock and let out the clutch
slowly.  Do not give it any throttle.

        4) Feel the car "judder" slightly as it turns and/or listen to the
squealing noise you hear from the         inside rear tire being dragged
along the concrete.

        5) Repeat Step Four in an Audi that has an open center diff and
compare your results.

Because the speed's so low, there's plenty of grip available at the tires
and chassis dynamics don't enter into the equation.  There's also negligible
weight shift and/or load transfer to complicate the situation ... try it for
yourself.
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   / |      _| o    | \       _| o  Jeffrey Goggin
  /__| | | / | | __ |  | | | / | |  audidudi@mindspring.com
 /   | |_| \_| |    |_/  |_| \_| |  http://www.mindspring.com/~audidudi/
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