Re: new t*rs*n paper (no flames)

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

>but thats the whole point.  the torsen didn't change between the (eg. ur-q and
>type 44) models, but everything else did (wheel base, track width, centre of
>gravity, roll stiffness, etc), leading to the different behaviour identified
>above.

Needless to say, I disagree ... how do you take a statement that says, in
essence, "The ideal bias ratio will vary depending upon a lot of different
factors" and conclude from it that the "spider bite" phenomenon is the
result of differences in "chassis dynamics" among the various Audi models?
One doesn't necessarily imply the other...

In fact, if anything, I'd suggest the reverse: to wit, differences in
"chassis dynamics" -- you're aware this terminology is being misused, right?
-- might mask or at possibly mitigate the effects of a less than optimal
choice of bias ratio.

Before I comment any further, though, I'll wait until after I've read the
paper and talked with a few more of Gleason's engineers...  :^)

(That said, a buddy of mine in the UK had an opportunity to discuss AWD with
a Prodrive employee over several beers in a pub late one night and says it
was explained to him that the main reason why modern rally cars use
sophisticated computer-controlled diffs these days is to make them more
predictable when driven at speed over unpredictable surfaces and not just to
improve traction ... food for thought, eh?  He's trying to see whether this
guy can be convinced to talk publicly about his experience with AWD so stay
tuned...)

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