My Subaru uses the viscous coupling. And actually, the current one uses not
only ABS but also traction control which has rarely kicked in.
Subaru has the AWD thing down to a science. Every model, except for the
oddball BRZ (it's really a Toyobaru), has full-time AWD. Plus the boxer
engine that sits nice and low and on the center line of the car.
The BRZ is the 2-seater sport thing. Because it's so low, the engine had to
sit really low in the front compartment and there was no room for a front
transaxle/transfer case. So, it's traditional RWD. After driving a Subaru
since 2000 (aside from a short time in 2013 after I sold my 2.5RS and
before I picked up the Soccer Mom Impreza), I wouldn't drive anything else.
I just love the way they handle/perform.
On Fri, Jul 15, 2016 at 11:07 AM, Ken Norton <ken@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Ahem. I don’t think that modern vehicles need a diff lock. I’m fairly
> certain that they do that sort of thing entirely automatically.
>
> Yes, through torque routing. Some manufacturers are able to do this
> mechanically (Audi) some through applying brakes (most), some through
> viscous couplings, and some through all of the above.
>
>
> > I’d be very disappointed if my 4WD Beemer spun a wheel in the mud. I
> think that I’ve just challenged myself to check :-)
>
> The xDrive design that BMW uses has gone through several variations
> and is remarkably good. However, the problem is that it's not designed
> for extensive periods of time with the traction control active. The
> BMW will put nearly all the power to one wheel if it needs to, but not
> for long before the computer kicks in and detects that something is
> amiss and it self-protects the drive-line.
>
> My X5 does this and it really is excellent, I've had two wheels in the
> air a number of times off roading (going across a diagonal ridge which
> lifts opposite corners off the ground), and it just goes. The Jeep
> would definitely hesitate a bit in that situation, but the suspension
> wasn't so stiff so it almost always kept three or four wheels
> touching.
>
> AG
> --
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