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07-28-2001, 01:54 PM | #1 |
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What's the difference between AWD and 4WD?
I know this sound stupid, but some say it's different, some say not... I just wanna know it.
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07-28-2001, 03:19 PM | #2 |
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AWD has an "A" in it
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07-28-2001, 03:22 PM | #3 |
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i don't know if i'm correct but with AWD it is all 4 wheels all the time and with 4WD it is 2 wheels until you flip a switch for 4 wheels
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07-28-2001, 03:38 PM | #4 |
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Please do a search. This has been covered ad nauseum.
Whatever. Do a search. Ask Jeeves. Go to 4-wheeler magazine websites. Obviously I was wrong before when I said that all that could be agreed upon was that we can't agree. Some people are so certain that they have the right answer that they can't let the possibility of a different answer remain as a valid counterpoint. There is no industry-wide accepted definition of AWD or 4WD. Last edited by CosmoTheCat; 07-31-2001 at 01:02 PM. |
07-28-2001, 03:49 PM | #5 |
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I think 4WD is 50% front 50% back and doesn't change. AWD redistributes to the front and rear wheels as needed (65% front - 45% back or whatever is needed for optimal acceleration, cornering, hill climbing, ya know, different conditions.
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07-28-2001, 04:55 PM | #6 |
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My wife had a 90 Legacy L with 4wd not awd. It was a 50/50 split. Also had that nice hill stop feature. We should never had sold it. Now we are looking for one again.
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07-28-2001, 11:08 PM | #7 |
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Here's what I know
4WD is rigid, and it can't be ran on dry pavement without damaging the car/truck. Imagine if the rear tires were 1/100th of an inch smaller than the front, and the wheels were not allowed to slip. Eventually the wheels would need to slip, or the gear would have to skip/grind a notch.
This is why the old timers (like your grandpap or crazy old uncle) will tell you that an AWD will break down and only two wheels are pulling your car (even though all 4 are on Subarus). The old timers will also tell you that anything with a turbo is doomed and bound to explode into a fireball before 35,000 miles. Then they get out of your car, slam the door, and complain about how light it feels and obviously inferior it must be to their old car with 300 pound doors Then they ask you how much it costs and complain about how America is going to hell and tell you that they bought their first car for $60 after they hawked their kidney... Ok I'm really rambling now so I'll stop... Corn-picker |
07-29-2001, 09:37 PM | #8 |
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good one
I wish there was an expert who could clarify this. See unless you have locking diffs, a 4wd isn't really planting all 4 wheels at the same time all the time. Or is it unless there is wheel spin?
AWD, I belive all 4 wheels do spin with the load distributed as needed. I could be wrong. Does anyone know for certain the differences? I too would like to know. |
07-29-2001, 11:06 PM | #9 |
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This winter someone should run a split mu?? test.
Find a large hill with ice only up one side of it. The incline needs to be quite steep. Put one side of the car on the ice and the other on dry pavement. This will let you know whether you have true 4wd or not or just how good the subaru AWD system is. I used to love those articles in the car magazines. Some of those SUV's claiming 4WD never could make it up. Both tires on the ice would spin like crazy. |
07-30-2001, 02:12 AM | #10 |
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AWD or 4wd DOES NOT IN ANY WAY indicate the mechanical parts used to drive the wheels. It indicates the intended use for the system 4wd is intended for off-highway use, while AWD is for inclement or smooth dirt roads at the worst.
I have owned a PART TIME AWD, and a Full time 4wd. This indicates that the first system is for only use in slick conditions on smooth roads, while the last one is for use at anytime. |
07-30-2001, 10:53 AM | #11 |
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What is the deal about encouraging people to "do a search" before asking questions? This is the newbie forum. I understand not wanting to have to read the same thing twice, but this thread has had some interesting discussion in it, and it is one of the most read recent threads.
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07-30-2001, 11:32 AM | #12 | |
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http://www.eskimo.com/~eliot/awd.html
Pretty well describes most systems and the differences... Here's the definition from that link that I prefer... Quote:
On the older non WRX automatics, you have an automaticaly engaging four wheel drive, where the computer controls the lockup of the rear driveshaft as it detects wheel spin, or based on throttle conditions. It is also AWD. It is very confusing and hard to understand. Take for example, a truck which drives all 4 wheels all the time through three open differentials. The way I look at it, that is not actually even 4WD. Just becuase you drive 4 wheels under normal conditions does not really mean you have better traction or ability than a 2WD car. In fact you may get stuck easier! All the cars power will go to the tire with the least traction. It's really 1WD! It is not 4WD untill you do something to lock one or more differentials, or anything else to stop all the power from going to the tire with the least amount of traction, that 4WD is engaged. If the engagement is automatic, then it can be called AWD, otherwise it is just 4WD. Just my opinion on things based on descriptions of different systems and articals like the above. Other desrciptions seem to fit but not quite all the way, but I think this one does. Last edited by NebScoob; 07-30-2001 at 11:46 AM. |
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07-30-2001, 12:36 PM | #13 |
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all i know is that if you have a 4wd car only 2 wheels can have power at one time because if you had all four wheels with power.. how do you turn!??!
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07-30-2001, 01:34 PM | #14 |
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whatever
Last edited by CosmoTheCat; 07-31-2001 at 12:58 PM. |
07-30-2001, 02:17 PM | #15 |
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So what is it Honda is using on the CRV... At the bottom center of the rear window is a little sticker that reads REALTIME AWD. Whutsupehdat?
-Silas |
07-30-2001, 03:01 PM | #16 | |
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Quote:
/bill |
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07-30-2001, 05:55 PM | #17 |
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whatever.
Last edited by CosmoTheCat; 07-31-2001 at 12:57 PM. |
07-30-2001, 08:01 PM | #18 | |||
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Every AWD can be called 4WD, but not every 4WD is truly AWD.
Quote:
I also want to respond about the three open diffs not being 4WD. I was very careful in my explination earlier when I said... Quote:
As for the Jeep...I still consider it AWD acording to the description I provided earlier. Jeep can call it whatever they want becuase every AWD is still 4WD...Like you said. They label it 4WD for marketing reasons. Remeber that link to the tech artical I posted earlier? I will quote from that again. Quote:
Last edited by NebScoob; 07-30-2001 at 08:04 PM. |
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07-30-2001, 08:29 PM | #19 |
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viscous disk
That explains it in a Jeep Cherokee, is the Subie different? True all four wheel locking is good if your rock climbing with it, but not practicle in everyday driving. How is it set up in the new imprezza?
Is it similar to a limited slip differential? Both wheels plant power when moving, then when a tire slips or spins, that power is shifter to the other wheel. I read something about the viscous diff in the Subie, but cant remember how it works. Does anyone know? I think it had something to with shifting the power to the font and back. Depending on where torque is needed through a spinning blade.....and creating air bubbles or something???? Yeah something like that........I think Last edited by L Bo; 07-30-2001 at 08:31 PM. |
07-30-2001, 09:11 PM | #20 |
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The subaru uses tree differentials. An open in front, a viscous Limited Slip in the center, and depending on the year, another viscous differential in the rear. (Some earlier years had a open diff in the back.)
A viscous limited slip acts like a normal diff under normal circumstances, allowing for small differences in left to right, and/or front to back differences in speed. However, large differences in speed, such as you get when one wheels breaks loose and starts to spin, cause the fluid in the viscous LSD to heat up and the diff begins to lock, sending torque back to the non-spinning side. |
07-30-2001, 10:42 PM | #21 | |
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Quote:
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07-31-2001, 01:01 AM | #22 |
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actually ASE defines, oh nevermind, www.howstuffworks.com
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07-31-2001, 03:37 AM | #23 |
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whatever.
Last edited by CosmoTheCat; 07-31-2001 at 12:56 PM. |
07-31-2001, 09:28 AM | #24 | |||||
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Quote:
http://www.4wdonline.com/Jeep/GrandCherokee.html from that artical... Quote:
Quote:
Conceptually the gerotor coupling, as Jeep likes to call it is very similar to a viscous coupling system, only a little more effictive. They are both mechanical systems that repond to differences in wheel speed by progresivly locking a differential. Of course the gerotor can fully lock, which is great for offroad use, but would most likely hurt the preformance of a car like the sube... Here's another link and quote to back up the above... http://www.sequoya-jeep.com/jeep_che...d_cherokee.htm Quote:
A lot of comarison to a viscous couplings, which of course are used by Subaru, which makes me think of it as AWD. The only HUGE difference between the quadra drive and Subarus AWD is the presence of a transfer case...ie High, Low. Of course you can have a transfer case on a 2WD, so I still say AWD. Also from that artical, which goes with what I was saying earlier... Quote:
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07-31-2001, 12:56 PM | #25 |
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what. ever.
I'm extremely bored with this conversation. I'm not responding to your comments because it does no good. We don't agree. That's all there is to it. feel free to go into it further if you must. I don't care. I don't feel the need to get the last word in on the subject. Everyone can just learn what you think and that will be the only answer. Like Christians think that Jesus and God are the only answer. The Muslim, Hindu, Bhuddist, and everyone else must be wrong. It's a personal thing, nothing more. |
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