Converting AWD to FWD

fellfrosch7 · 10-29-2000, 11:00 PM

I read somewhere that taking out the AWD fuse will make the car drive with FWD only.. does this have any negative effects on the engine, transmission, etc., especially if you leave the fuse out for a longer period of time? Also, would there be any power gains (since the AWD setup eats up a lot of HP before it gets to the wheels)?

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Penphoe · 10-29-2000, 11:19 PM

Only works for automatics -- look in the owners manual.

LaterZ!
Darren!!

DLC · 10-30-2000, 06:46 AM

Yes it only works on automatics.

My 93 Turbo in FWD is a joke, i spin the tires in every turn. An RS might be less prone as its torque is lower and at higher rpms, but it'd still be very prone to spin.

XT6Wagon · 10-30-2000, 07:00 AM

Um its a complete and utter fallacy that AWD eats power. Its simply not the case in modern times with great bearings and U-joints that don't puke. Think about it, you still have to accelerate all that hardware even in FWD mode as the rear tires are still required to move at the same speed. so instead of accelerating the driveshaft by way ot the tranny, you now do it though the ground, and the rear tires.

AWD's do have a much higher rotating mass than a normal FWD, but the fuse trick doesn;t avoid this. AWD's therfore dyno low as they have high rotating mass (a dyno run killer), and AWD dynos have lots of contact losses, as the tires try and deform to the shape of the stupid rollers.

mrbell · 10-31-2000, 12:37 AM

I've seen dyno's where the wheels are removed and the machine is attaches to the lug nuts... this would get rid of the loss through the tires. of course it would just be nice to get an engine dyno to see what power we're really producing

NateP · 10-31-2000, 11:24 AM

It can be done with a 5spd car, but it requires the purchasing of another center diff unit for whatever tranny you're using, and welding it. This way, when the tranny is reinstalled, the transfer case can be left off of the car and it will drive as a FWD. Driveshaft needs to be removed in this case, too.

ImprezedRS · 11-01-2000, 06:28 AM

When race people on straight roads i do the fuse trick on my auto and it accelerates a lot faster since i lost to a civic si in awd and left him in fwd. But on curvy roads leave it in awd as i almost ended up in a ditch in fwd. And one more thing, in fwd you will burn your tires down easily as of now i got half the tread on the front as i do the back.

Gambit · 11-01-2000, 07:39 AM

Doesn't make sense as you shud be able to launch much harder and faster in AWD than a FWD.

ImprezedRS · 11-02-2000, 07:10 AM

Thats what i thought but for some reason my auto in fwd will take off faster than in awd at a dead stop but from 20 mph up in awd it will get up and go faster than fwd

10-29-2000, 11:00 PM	#1
fellfrosch7 Scooby Specialist Member#: 2389 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Las Vegas, NV Vehicle: '98 Impreza L Wagon '90 Talon TSi AWD	Converting AWD to FWD I read somewhere that taking out the AWD fuse will make the car drive with FWD only.. does this have any negative effects on the engine, transmission, etc., especially if you leave the fuse out for a longer period of time? Also, would there be any power gains (since the AWD setup eats up a lot of HP before it gets to the wheels)? * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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10-29-2000, 11:19 PM	#2
Penphoe Friendly Neighbourhood Moderator Member#: 269 Join Date: Sep 1999 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Burnaby, B.C., Canada Vehicle: 2005 ABP LGT LTD BP6 00 Impreza RS GM6 RIP	Only works for automatics -- look in the owners manual. LaterZ! Darren!!

10-30-2000, 06:46 AM	#3
DLC out back Moderator Member#: 1964 Join Date: Jul 2000 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: 84XXX Vehicle: 01 BH Blue/Bronze	Yes it only works on automatics. My 93 Turbo in FWD is a joke, i spin the tires in every turn. An RS might be less prone as its torque is lower and at higher rpms, but it'd still be very prone to spin.

10-30-2000, 07:00 AM	#4
XT6Wagon Scooby Specialist Member#: 524 Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: WA Vehicle: 04 STi White	Um its a complete and utter fallacy that AWD eats power. Its simply not the case in modern times with great bearings and U-joints that don't puke. Think about it, you still have to accelerate all that hardware even in FWD mode as the rear tires are still required to move at the same speed. so instead of accelerating the driveshaft by way ot the tranny, you now do it though the ground, and the rear tires. AWD's do have a much higher rotating mass than a normal FWD, but the fuse trick doesn;t avoid this. AWD's therfore dyno low as they have high rotating mass (a dyno run killer), and AWD dynos have lots of contact losses, as the tires try and deform to the shape of the stupid rollers.

10-31-2000, 12:37 AM	#5
mrbell Scooby Specialist Member#: 1871 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Vehicle: 2000 Impreza 2.5RS Blue Ridge Pearl	I've seen dyno's where the wheels are removed and the machine is attaches to the lug nuts... this would get rid of the loss through the tires. of course it would just be nice to get an engine dyno to see what power we're really producing

10-31-2000, 11:24 AM	#6
NateP Scooby Newbie Member#: 2414 Join Date: Sep 2000	It can be done with a 5spd car, but it requires the purchasing of another center diff unit for whatever tranny you're using, and welding it. This way, when the tranny is reinstalled, the transfer case can be left off of the car and it will drive as a FWD. Driveshaft needs to be removed in this case, too.

11-01-2000, 06:28 AM	#7
ImprezedRS Scooby Specialist Member#: 2771 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Charlotte, NC Vehicle: 2003 BMW Z4 Blue	When race people on straight roads i do the fuse trick on my auto and it accelerates a lot faster since i lost to a civic si in awd and left him in fwd. But on curvy roads leave it in awd as i almost ended up in a ditch in fwd. And one more thing, in fwd you will burn your tires down easily as of now i got half the tread on the front as i do the back.

11-01-2000, 07:39 AM	#8
Gambit Scooby Specialist Member#: 102 Join Date: Jul 1999 Location: The meeting place	Doesn't make sense as you shud be able to launch much harder and faster in AWD than a FWD.

11-02-2000, 07:10 AM	#9
ImprezedRS Scooby Specialist Member#: 2771 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Charlotte, NC Vehicle: 2003 BMW Z4 Blue	Thats what i thought but for some reason my auto in fwd will take off faster than in awd at a dead stop but from 20 mph up in awd it will get up and go faster than fwd