RE: Waving the white flag. . .

["Ned Ritchie" <NED@IntendedAcceleration.com>]

I've been LIGHTLY reading the info on the torsen differentials.

Several years ago I went from the open differential to the torsen
differential in my 5000 TQ.

A mile from my home is a 160 degree left turn to the entrance of an on ramp
to the freeway.

With the "open diff" and power applied the front tires would spin
(especially the left front, even get some smoke) as weight transferred to
the back and if I didn't ease off a little, the car would just plow off the
road to the outside.

With the torsen and power applied the front tires would lift as before as
weight transferred to the rear.  The difference to the "dumb driver" as
Marni likes to call me was I could accelerate a little more.  There was less
of an acceleration vector to the "friction circle" of the front left tire
and more of the friction circle left over for turning.   If the pavement was
wet as it usually is here in Washington State, and I was in a show off mood
I could end up off the road on the inside!  Did that twice and decided  to
regroup and think that one through. (Back tires lost grip in the turn and
instant oversteer with TOO much horsepower, and a "SLOW and dumb driver"
behind the wheel)

Another thing I've observed on several occasions at Steamboat Springs is an
Audi V8 being pulled from being buried up to the windshield in the snow
bank.  Whereas a similarly stuck 5000 TQ just locked the differentials and
drives out!

One last thing.  When a CV joint goes in an Audi with a torsen your done.
However, with a open diff you just lock the center diff and you're on your
way again.

Ned Ritchie

Date: Tue, 5 May 1998 07:59:07 -0400 (EDT)
From: audidudi@mindspring.com (Jeffrey J. Goggin)
Subject: Waving the white flag...

I don't know how to put this politely but I'm beginning to experience the
same degree of frustration ... if and when
I uncover something interesting, I'll post back.  Otherwise, this will be
the last you ever hear from me on the subject of Torsen center diffs...  :^)