AWD to RWD thread, official [Merged 10-7]

[Raph]

guys here have pulled off the awd mirage/colt/proton thing,i think they used a awd from some other mitsu .. or just the tel awd and a custom drive shaft.. (you can tell if the colt has 5 lug nuts..)

TEL awd,TEL hubs front and rear(duh) the 4g63 bolts up fine in the c50 CSM platforms

 

[sureshot971]

I dont think i need to say it either since everyone else already has but yea i wanted to do a rwd or awd conversion to my eclipse but yea i researched it and i pretty much say make an insane sleeper.

 

[jemsoccer]

I was just thinking about this today. I recently bought a GSX and was pondering the idea about being able to go drifting in it. Obviously you can't really do this w/ an AWD, so I was thinking about making my car RWD to play with.

With that, I got the idea to design something on each front axle that would allow you to flip a switch and be in RWD or flip it back and be in AWD again.

I was wondering if this would be worth pursuing. Would anyone be interested in have this in their cars?? Also, how much would you be willing to pay for such an option?

All feedback on this matter will be greatly appreciated. Let me know your thoughts.

Though I have never heard of this already being created, please also let me know if this has already been thought up. Thanks.

 

[mrtalon40]

I was just thinking about this today. I recently bought a GSX and was pondering the idea about being able to go drifting in it. Obviously you can't really do this w/ an AWD, so I was thinking about making my car RWD to play with.

With that, I got the idea to design something on each front axle that would allow you to flip a switch and be in RWD or flip it back and be in AWD again.

I was wondering if this would be worth pursuing. Would anyone be interested in have this in their cars?? Also, how much would you be willing to pay for such an option?

All feedback on this matter will be greatly appreciated. Let me know your thoughts.

Though I have never heard of this already being created, please also let me know if this has already been thought up. Thanks.

That is a pretty good idea! Though in most SUV'S those come standard the ability to switch from 2wd to 4wd, despite the fact it will be a nice thing to have in a DSM that would be a pretty good idea! I don't know what I will pay for such a thing though depending on its ability and how great it works then you can make a serious price. like if you can switch all the power to the rear wheels accurately and switch them back and it will be just as perfect as a rear wheel car that would be one of the best mods to come!

 

[JusMX141]

It can be done:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cCNuHNVvN3U

I believe the only way you can do it using the standard drivetrain is to weld the center diff and remove the front axles.

You will have to find a set of junk front axles to disassemble because you'll need to use the inner axle cups as a plug in order to keep the oil in the tranny. In other words, the front axles will still be turning; they just won't be driving anything.

I'm not sure how durable it is (I don't know how much power a RWD-only DSM can take before it destroys driveline parts) but it sure looks like fun!

 

[dieseltech]

Personally I'd make the change in the transfercase. It would take some machining and tooling, but could be done. Then you'd only need a simple cable to switch between 2wd or 4wd. You'd have to be parked to make the switch from 2wd to 4wd though.

 

[95CarbonEclipse]

+1 That would be BADASS!!

 

[99gst_racer]

I'm with dieseltech. It would be much easier to make the change in the transfer case as apposed to the axels themselves. And there is an available t-case that is switchable between FWD and AWD, so if you could aquire one of those, you might be able to modify it. Also, dont forget that the OE transfer case, driveshaft, and rear end are not designed to transfer 100% of the engine's output. So, if you were really going to make this work, you'll have to strengthen those areas just to handle the added stress.

 

[Beanokid69]

FYI- STI's and R34's have adjustable diffs.

 

[jemsoccer]

Well, my idea would to simply have almost a bolt on design. The only thing needed would be to cut the axles at a given point and slip a sleeve on that would house every thing needed to engage and disengage the axles. Then I would have an electrical switch inside the car that would do the engaging. Obviously if you're running extreme hp, you'll need to beef up the rear end for this, but if you're gunna be running that much power, you'll need to be doing this anyways.

 

[wont_luz]

Absolutely killer idea. I don't know much about building up the rear driveline for it...but if it didn't involve complete custom fabrication I'd be in for it. Drifting in a rwd dsm would be crazy!

 

[jemsoccer]

Well here's the thing... I'm going to school to be an engineer and have and entire machine shop to use at my disposal. So if I designed this... how many people would be interested in actually buying this setup. I would offer an install program where you guys send me the axles and I would cut and install them myself. Or, if you guys have access to the necessary tools, I could just sell the housing and wiring for the switches.

So how many people would be interested in this setup for say... just throwing out a number here, around $500?? Would this be worth it to you guys at this price? Would you be willing to go more?

Again, i'm just throwing this number out to see who would be interested. Send me some prices you guys would be willing to pay!

 

[steve]

Well, my idea would to simply have almost a bolt on design. The only thing needed would be to cut the axles at a given point and slip a sleeve on that would house every thing needed to engage and disengage the axles.

What the others have been trying to tell you is that you can't just disconnect the axles. Doing so will cause the stock drivetrain to route all the power to the now disconnected axles until the VC in the center diff goes into hump mode from overheating and tried to lock. Do that repeatedly and you burn up the center diff VC.

Steve

 

[jemsoccer]

What the others have been trying to tell you is that you can't just disconnect the axles. Doing so will cause the stock drivetrain to route all the power to the now disconnected axles until the VC in the center diff goes into hump mode from overheating and tried to lock. Do that repeatedly and you burn up the center diff VC.

Steve

So what would be needed to be done in there to allow a rear wheel design to be plausible?

 

[1gcrazy]

Personally I'd make the change in the transfercase. It would take some machining and tooling, but could be done. Then you'd only need a simple cable to switch between 2wd or 4wd. You'd have to be parked to make the switch from 2wd to 4wd though.

I'm with dieseltech. It would be much easier to make the change in the transfer case as apposed to the axels themselves. And there is an available t-case that is switchable between FWD and AWD, so if you could aquire one of those, you might be able to modify it. Also, dont forget that the OE transfer case, driveshaft, and rear end are not designed to transfer 100% of the engine's output. So, if you were really going to make this work, you'll have to strengthen those areas just to handle the added stress.

These guys are probably on the right track.

 

[92awddsm]

First off, if you are trying to make it switch between rwd and awd, the change would have to be made in the front axles, not the transfer case (tc). If the change was made in the tc, that would be for swapping from awd to fwd. There are no changes that can be made in the tc to disable the front driveline.

Second, in order for it to work, you would either need to weld the center diff, install a spool in the center diff, or install a vicious coupler eliminator(vce).

And as already stated, Im not sure how much power and traction the stock tc can handle alone before it self destructs.

And for whoever said they only needed the front inner cups to go in the tranny is missing something. The outer joint is all that needs to be used in order to keep the wheel bearings from coming apart. The torque from the axle nut is what keeps the three races in the bearing from seperating. The front axle seals can be pulled and core plugs installed to keep the tranny fluind from draining out.

 

[eclipsh]

I'm sorry, but have any of you actually looked at the transaxle setup in our cars? There is no bolt up solution for switching the car from AWD to RWD and back. There is a JDM trans that will do AWD to FWD.

There is nothing you can to do the transfer case to take the front axles out of the picture because the parts that you need to change are inside the transaxle not the transfer case. The transfer case is nothing more than two really big gears to change the direction of the shaft. ALL the parts that determine where the power is sent are inside the transaxle.

Edit: Gah... ^ beat me to it.

So yeah, if you want something with that capability you'll need to buy a car which has a variable center diff like a Skyline or the like.

That or just buy a 2nd DSM and do a RWD conversion.

Or just buy a second car that is already RWD.

 

[jemsoccer]

I'm sorry, but have any of you actually looked at the transaxle setup in our cars? There is no bolt up solution for switching the car from AWD to RWD and back. There is a JDM trans that will do AWD to FWD.

You're right, there isn't a bolt up solution for this. This is why I want to MAKE this a bolt up solution. I have a Shep racing stage 1 tranny w/ viscous eliminator. So this should take the problem of the VC out, right?

 

[1gcrazy]

First off, if you are trying to make it switch between rwd and awd, the change would have to be made in the front axles, not the transfer case (tc). If the change was made in the tc, that would be for swapping from awd to fwd. There are no changes that can be made in the tc to disable the front driveline.

Second, in order for it to work, you would either need to weld the center diff, install a spool in the center diff, or install a vicious coupler eliminator(vce).

And as already stated, Im not sure how much power and traction the stock tc can handle alone before it self destructs.

And for whoever said they only needed the front inner cups to go in the tranny is missing something. The outer joint is all that needs to be used in order to keep the wheel bearings from coming apart. The torque from the axle nut is what keeps the three races in the bearing from seperating. The front axle seals can be pulled and core plugs installed to keep the tranny fluind from draining out.

Oh yeah huh... Heres your sign...

 

[Mikael SS]

i'll be so happy when this stupid fad dies

 

[jemsoccer]

Tell you what guys, I'm gunna try this and I'll let you all know what happens. If everything goes according to plan and nothing bad happens, I'll see about maybe sharing the design.

 

[bling5tatus]

Oh yeah huh... Heres your sign...

Hahaha...

OP,

I think it could be done but it would definitely not be a small "installs in 1 hour" bolt on part. It may be worth looking into how the 4wd trucks/subaru/skyline does it and try to pursue that avenue. That, I can guarantee there would be a market for, even if it costs thousands of dollars; some rich kid out there will buy it... and you can laugh all the way to the bank.

 

[Boo5t_Addict]

The reason the Skyline can do it is because it is an AWD drivetrain with a RWD setup. Meaning, under normal conditions drives in RWD mode, and then sends power to the two front wheels when the computer notices them slipping. What Skyline owners do is just remove a fuse (at least I'm pretty sure that's how it works). I believe the Evo 8 from The Fast and the Furious 3: Tokyo Drift used a different transfercase. I also believe it was made by Millen racing, or someone like that. Try looking into that, because the issue is in the transfercase.

 

[eclipsh]

You're right, there isn't a bolt up solution for this. This is why I want to MAKE this a bolt up solution. I have a Shep racing stage 1 tranny w/ viscous eliminator. So this should take the problem of the VC out, right?

Before you keep fantasizing about this try finding an old awd tranxaxle and pulling it apart. I'm betting most of the posters in this thread have never even looked at a schematic let alone actually dug into the real thing.

The cars that can adjust their power distribution are doing it through the center differential and are doing it electronically. See if you can dig up info on how they are doing it but I'm sure it is proprietary and well guarded. Here is some info for you. And some more.

As you can see, both systems are using electronically controlled planetary gears inside the center differential. Unless you are an engineer along with being a machinist I'd sure look for some outside help or try to copy the one from the Evo IX.

 

[jemsoccer]

As you can see, both systems are using electronically controlled planetary gears inside the center differential. Unless you are an engineer along with being a machinist I'd sure look for some outside help or try to copy the one from the Evo IX.

I actually am both...