Wheel Knob
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Wheel Knob
The Four Wheel Drive System
I'm sure most of you reading this have heard of the term four-wheel drive, or 4x4, but I will bet some of you don't know what it does, how it works, and why it might benefit you. For a vehicle to be considered to be a four-wheel drive, the engine must be capable of distributing torque to all four wheels. Torque is the power that moves your vehicle. In non four-wheel drive cars and trucks, torque is distributed to either the front or back wheels, while the remaining two wheels are free rolling. In a 4x4, you can either manually engage all four wheels, or it is done for you automatically. Most four-wheel drive owners believe it's a 50/50 distribution of torque, but in most cars, it's more like 65/35.
There are several reasons why one would need a four-wheel drive. All of them have to do with friction. While torque powers the wheels, friction between the tires and the driving surface is what gives you traction, and lets your vehicle move forward. If a vehicle is moving on a muddy surface, there is a lower amount of friction, which causes the tires of a two-wheel drive to spin out, while the vehicle stays in one spot. With a 4x4, the extra torque to all four wheels, instead of just 2 wheels for standard vehicles greatly increases the traction available to the vehicle.
This then provides better friction for the vehicle, ti enable forwward movement. This is also true for wet, snowy, and icy surfaces.
There are different types of four-wheel drive systems, some that require more driver input than others. In a manual four-wheel drive, one has to go outside of the vehicle and lock the hubs. This is a circular type knob located on the front wheels. Once this is done, the vehicle must be put in neutral, and then the control for the four-wheel drive is implemented. IN a "shift on the fly' system, you can engage the four wheel drive while the vehicle is moving, as the hubs are automatically locked. In an automatic four-wheel drive system, the four-wheel drive only works when it is needed, and it requires no driver input. In an all wheel drive system, no driver input is required, and torque is constantly given to all four wheels.
The Audi Quattro is an amazing all wheel drive car that differs from most other vehicles. It has a 40/60 torque distribution, with the bulk of the torque geared towards the rear wheels. This distribution allows the torque from the engine to transfer to the road more efficiently, giving the driver a greater sense of control. It also adjusts to road conditions, and transfers power to the wheels that have the most traction! For instance, if a rear wheel is spinning torque to that wheel is reduced and re-distributed to the other wheels! This allows the driver to have a safer and more confident driving experience.
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