Transmission and transfer case questions

[ZDA1728]

Hey guys. I was wondering how do out transmissions and transfer cases put power on the ground. As in, what is the exact technical process on how power is transferred to all 4 wheels on our awd DSM's. I would also like to know exactly why and how the transmission and transfer case can be damage from towing our cars without a flatbed. thanks !

 

[streetraceboi]

Transmission rotates the back end through the transfer case. When towed with front or rear tires on the ground ...the other end needs to rotate as well...when it can't..things break. It isn't rocket science

 

[ZDA1728]

Well yeah if you simplify it, I was just looking for bit more technical aspect.

 

[91-GS]

An automatic transmission is lubricated and cooled with the tranny fluid. The torque converter is the pump that circulates the lube throughout the mechanisms when the engine is running. When a car is towed, however, the pump is not turning so the tranny is not getting lubricated or cooled by the fluid while parts of it are turned by the driveshaft. Metal-on-metal grinding is not good and the heat it generates only makes things worse.

Here is some more info: Towing DSM AWD cars

 

[pauleyman]

AWD splits front and rear via a center differential inside the transmission. Ours employ a limited slip device called a viscous coupling that is mounted to the differential, again inside the transmission. When the wheels slip front to rear the viscous coupler tightens up and tries to prevent this from happening so you have traction both front and rear. If you tow the car on two wheels you will be differentiating 100% front to rear. The differential inside are spinning rapidly at this point and you will quickly overcome the viscous coupler and destroy it and subsequently the center diff is spinning internally constantly which it normally doesn't do and it will burn that up in short order also.

 

[ZDA1728]

Thanks guys , that actually helped out a lot.