RE: Torsen Stuff

[Sargent Schutt <sargent@novagate.com>]

Greg Johnson <gregsj@iea.com> wrote:

"Fellow Audians;  I've followed the Torsen thread with mild
interest.  I'm not an engineer and no one will ever accuse me of
being a mechanic, however I must share a few interesting facts.
If someone else has already pointed this out, forgive me.

Torsen came to rallying in the early 1980s and did quite well
thank you.
Torsen came to Pikes Peak in 1985, 1986 and 1987 and set records."
 
(major snippage of further torsen victories)

Greg, your own caveat makes me wonder about the credibility of this whole
post. I don't mean that as a flame at all. Really.

My point is this:

What was Tshift max on those torsens?

What kind of front diffs were used (open, as on production cars - DOUBT IT)

What kind of rear Diffs were used (again, doubt they were open diffs)

Racers have totally different torsen splits and different f/r diffs as well. 

Were they 78/22, 22/78 splits? Again, doubt it.

And somewhere in there (assuming they actually used torsen centers of some
sort) lies a very telling story of both the strengths and weaknesses of torsen.

I've brought up the point about torsen centers being used with lsd front/rear,
and it has all been dismissed. Is that really such a retarded idea?

READ THIS:
To quote from the article in Car & Driver, May 98 on the Subaru Impreza WRC:

"power is supplied to all four wheels by three differentials. The front and
center diffs are electronically controlled, and rear diff is a mechanical
limited-slip unit. The front and center units use hydraulic pressure that
actuates a clutch pack to vary the amount of lock. The driver can also adjust
the amount of lock in these diffs using a knob on the dash."

That doesn't sound to me like a nod to a system with a variable,
uncontrollable center split in conjunction with open front and center diffs. 

I prefer the locking diffs to the torsen b/c they are not variable. Fooled or
not, i always know what the consequences of applying the throttle will be with
the locking diffs. For better or worse, the torsen is not as predictable. I
don't like auto tranny's, and I don't like auto f/r torque application.
Neither have proven smart enough to intuit my intentions; the locker doesn't
try to. That's why I prefer the locker. Predictability - I make the calls.

Otherwise, in every other respect, the 91 200q is superior to the older 86-88
5ktq's. (that's not a diss on the older cars, but an MC on steriods is still
not a 3B)

cashing in with my .02 again.

Not trying to fan the flames here, just trying to evaluate the 'assertions' of
torsen in racing. Nobody used a torsen center in conjunction with open f/r
diffs, and that alone is writing on the wall.

This is a pain in neck. No, wait, that was the lady in the accord...

Regards, 

Sarge

91 200q down, but not out...