Question for Car Gurus

[Dari]

I'm currently in the market for an SUV and the latest blizzard has taught me a lot. First off, 4X4 or AWD is the way to go. Second, car companies lie when they say that their cars are 4X2 because some of the vehicles stuck in the snow are really only using 1 wheel (usually the back passenger side). What is up with that? How come that isn't advertised (to convince people to upgrade to a true 4X2)? How can I be sure that the car (or SUV) I get will be a true 4X4 or true AWD? Will it specify it on the sticker?

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: Dari
I'm currently in the market for an SUV and the latest blizzard has taught me a lot. First off, 4X4 or AWD is the way to go. Second, car companies lie when they say that their cars are 4X2 because some of the vehicles stuck in the snow are really only using 1 wheel (usually the back passenger side). What is up with that? How come that isn't advertised (to convince people to upgrade to a true 4X2)? How can I be sure that the car (or SUV) I get will be a true 4X4 or true AWD? Will it specify it on the sticker?

just ask the salesman, they never lie 🙂 seriously though it should be labeled on the vehicle itself, car companies like to brag...speaking of which...why dont they do that with computers??? give you little stickers to put on the outside to show what you have on the inside?

 

[notfred]

you want a limited slip differential. That will keep both wheels spinning when one loses traction.

 

[yobarman]

i'm no expert but i think that's the way axles turn. power is only sent to one wheel and the other comes along, which allows better turning in cars. I'm sure newer cars have all sorts of technological gadgets to make all the wheels spin, but 😛

 

[Ryan]

Well, the Infiniti FX45 has true AWD 😛

 

[freebee]

Limited slip, locking diffs, or even traction control can help. These features, along with AWD will improve traction. But, to maximize the traction available, you still would want snow tires on all 4 wheels.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: freebee
Limited slip, locking diffs, or even traction control can help. These features, along with AWD will improve traction. But, to maximize the traction available, you still would want snow tires on all 4 wheels.

Limited slip, positive traction, traction-lok, sur-grip, etc. etc. are ALL considered to be Locking Differentials.
They are just brand names.

A non-locking differential, called "single traction" by some, is the other type of diff. In this type, if one tire has good traction and the other has minimal, the one with the least traction will do the spinning.

Basically, the only difference in locking differentials is how you go about locking the axles together. Clutches, cones, ratcheting, worm gears, etc. All have their uses, but accomplish the same thing.

Most new car manufacturers use clutch-type locking differentials. They are a lot smoother and less noisey than the other types.

2 wheel drive means that power is only delivered to 1 axle assembly. Front or rear. It doesn't take into consideration whether a locking differential is present or not.

 

[Thegonagle]

A 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive car (with appropriate tires), as opposed to a truck, is generally the best and safest handling vehicle in the snow. (Yes, I've driven plenty of both cars and trucks, FWD, AWD, 4WD, RWD in plenty of snow in Minnesota over the years.)

On a RWD truck, both rear wheels are driven, but a non-limited slip (open) differential will allow the wheel with the least traction to spin. There's no deception there, that's just how most differentials work. Most FWD cars have the same open differential as most RWD cars and trucks, and you can witness this "one-wheel-drive" phenomenon on a stuck FWD car as well.