Center Diff. How it effects the back tires?

[selmerguy]

Well I bought my 1g Tsi AWD anf the back tires have always wanted to lock up when turning sharp or backing out while turning. When I shift into reverse, turn the wheel and start to back up there is a clunk sound from the tranny area. On VFAQ there is a great write up on the blown center diff. The symptoms are the same as mine. My question is how does something the the Tranny effect the way the tires spin in the rear end? It makes nosense to me. I thought the drive shaft spins and the rear end controls the was the rear tires spin. But the VFAQ is tried a true. Can someone explain how the center diff works?

 

[andymoraitis]

I did a quickie Google search and came up with this:

http://www.autozine.org/technical_school/traction/tech_traction_4wd_2.htm

Maybe it'll get you started in the right direction,

Andy

 

[selmerguy]

Ok so the drive shaft gets it angle changed by the cender diff? This makes the outside tire in the rear spin faster? That is cool. Makes sense now.

 

[raped]

no, power is split between the rear and the front tires through the center diff. It is really quite simple.

 

[selmerguy]

no, power is split between the rear and the front tires through the center diff. It is really quite simple.

Yes but how does the center diff change the rate that the tires in the back spin? Like when you turn. The outside tire spins faster then the inside. If the center diff is blown these tires spin at the same rate which cause problems.

 

[raped]

When you are turning the the inside rear tire is spinning the slowest. Beacause of this the average speed of both rear wheels when you are turning is slower than the average speed of the front tires. The center diffderential is there to compensate for this, the rear wheels will be allowed to turn slower up to a point. If the center diff is broken it may end up effectively locking the front and rear power split so the rear wheels are not allowed to turn slower, which would make your rear wheels hop around turns.

 

[selmerguy]

When you are turning the the inside rear tire is spinning the slowest. Beacause of this the average speed of both rear wheels when you are turning is slower than the average speed of the front tires. The center diffderential is there to compensate for this, the rear wheels will be allowed to turn slower up to a point. If the center diff is broken it may end up effectively locking the front and rear power split so the rear wheels are not allowed to turn slower, which would make your rear wheels hop around turns.

Thank you.

 

[steve]

Yes but how does the center diff change the rate that the tires in the back spin?

The diff doesn't change the rate, it allows the difference. The wheels turn at different speeds because they have to in order to follow different length paths they travel when turning.

Steve

 

[jtmcinder]

If the center diff is broken it may end up effectively locking the front and rear power split so the rear wheels are not allowed to turn slower, which would make your rear wheels hop around turns.

Yes, a locked center can make the rear hop and skip during turns, but please don't mention the "power split" unless you are going to use this concept correctly. Thanks.

- Jtoby