How does the 4wd/AWD system work on the prado ??

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Was just curious how the 4wd system works ?? Is it like the subaru or totally different. Today on the way home I was feeling the need to try out the 120 around a few corners (no other traffic around, certainly no kids and the road was wet) when I was turning left I give it a gut full and managed to drift across (all 4 sliding) then give it a bit more and the arse end decided to whip out on me (all under control) bit of right hand lock and straightened up all good. I then locked the centre diff lock and did the same again this time it had no hesitation in flicking the arse end around like I was my old commodore, tryed again the next corner same thing, then unlocked it took a right hand turn give it some and the back flicked out to the left so bit of left hand down to correct it and off I went. I thought AWD it would have had less slippage and especially locking it thought it would have given me a fair bit more control and not alowed the rear end to flick out like it did ???? or is it the limo diff thats flicking it out ?? Again this was on really wet and slippery road again no one around me and in an area where there were no kids or anybody for that matter or I wouldnt have tried it. When I had the old 90 grande with the stability control it would kick in and was very impressive how it kept the old 90 straight or pull it back in line if it just started to get unsettled. I just thought the prado would have delivered the power in a more even way front to back like a subaru ?????????? This is also on grandtreck tyres running 40psi......Cheers Steve

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

60% of the power goes to the rear wheels and 40% to the front wheels. For a very thorough explanation have a look here http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...ne-description

Aren't you making a rather large assumption that anyone here knows how the AWD system in a Subaru works in order to know if the Prado is different

Cheers Andrew

[ApatheticEnd Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ApatheticEnd]

It just so happens I have two cars AJ. 120 prado and 2010 WRX.

[gspy4u Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gspy4u]

not the best for the tranny locking it and flogging it on a road even if it's wet I would of thought

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

It just so happens I have two cars AJ. 120 prado and 2010 WRX.

I was sure some would know how the system warks on the Subaru, just a bit tongue in cheek from me. I for one know nothing about the Subaru system, so asking to compare it to the Prado without giving a description of how it works makes life difficult for Prado owners on a Prado forum.

Cheers Andrew

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

There is an interesting video on youtube about the asymmetric drive system and how it transmits the power equally on subaru and unequally on others due to the different length driveshafts.

Not sure how the 'real world' effect would be though.

http://youtu.be/ooQRxlChvMw

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

I'll start it off.......For the Prado, the 4wd system works like this, you have 3 diffs, one between the front wheels, one in the transfer case, and another between the rear wheels, the front one is what is called an open diff, the centre one is called a locking diff, and the rear one is a limited slip diff. The torque split is normally 60% rear/40% front, the centre diff controls the torque from front to rear, power will transfer to up to 100% front or rear depending on the traction of the wheels, the diffs at the front or rear will transfer drive from 50% left and right to 100% left or right. By locking the centre diff, you will make it 50% front and 50% rear drive. Drive power will always travel to the wheel with least resistance. (This is why diff locks are perfect for off roading), The reason for diffs is, this allows drive to be transfered to the wheels, and they also allow you to turn corners (as the inside wheel will turn slower than the outside wheel), if you did not have a rear diff, you would find it very hard to turn corners as you will end up going straight ahead.

[Playdoh96 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Playdoh96]

I've always thought that the centre diff unlocked acts as a open diff. Only reason I think that, is when off road with centre diff unlocked, if you get wheel spin or lift one wheel you go nowhere, because all the drive go's to that wheel. With the centre diff locked it will split the drive 50/50 front to rear. I'am sure this is the same on the 120s/150s. Not sure how it split 60/40 as there is no LSD in the centre diff assembly

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Thanks for the replys guys. ##########/gspy4u, I only did it just before the corners, not when travelling along the straight part of the road so really there was plenty of slipage. The light come on and I could feel it lock and this was just prior to the corners and the roads were extremely slippery so I wasnt concerned about it doing any damage. (I certainly wouldn't have done it in the dry and also giving it some) It certainly doesn't seem to grip like a subaru does and I have hunted a STI through some bends in the wet and it stuck like (as they say shit to a blanket)

The prado certainly doesn't have the level of grip the sub had when I drove it. I'm not complaining in regards to it not handling like a sub (have to be a wanker to think it would) but was just wondering in general the way the system works, hence why I was compairing it to a subaru due to the AWD part of it. Its certainly not the way I drive it around bends as any stage but was compairing it the old 90 and its stability system and how well that system really did work on the 90 grande.

Definately a great safety spec to have these days if available like on the VX's and the grande's in the 120 range (standard 150) ""I've always thought that the centre diff unlocked acts as a open diff "" I was along the same thought but obviously I'm wrong as I dont know jack shit about how the drive line works in finer detail especially when it comes to AWD's......Cheers Steve

[butane8 Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close butane8]

bit more fuel in the fire... last weekend i took on some dirt and wasn't shy on the pedal feed.... the only diff, ( get it .. lol ) was this time i left it in the normal mode (transfer case )

twice the front went out from under me powering out of the corner... last time i had it it H4 had no under steer at all/// no drama's..

and the abs was noticebally more sensitive on the dirt with it in H4.. than normal ... cheers butane

[squish Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close squish]

Note to self - NEVER let Steve M drive my car.........

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

Note to self - NEVER let Steve M drive my car.........

Or buy a vehicle from him...

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Would do less damage for that two minutes then 5 minutes of driving with the boot into it on the sand/beach or rutted roads. Never had an issue selling any of my vehicles, in better nick when I sell them then when i buy them. Never given yours a bit of stick ?? Geez Butane we must be the only two to give our prados the occasional right boot ?? Better go check I didnt wind up the transfer case too much.......................Cheers Steve

[gantulga Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gantulga]

Idea of locking CDL and turning at high speed on low traction surface on intention to compare with other sporty car means you are not a safe driver. If you perform this types of stuff again, you will be wind up in a wreck before the tranny winds up...

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Oh FFS, whats, the brigade out ?? Not a safe driver my arse, have driven huge klms over the last 28 years including high performance cars, turbo,supercharged, bikes, turbo bike, upto 1000cc, 4wd's including heaps of towing caravans,camper, rigid trucks and interstate/local semi's, have been fined twice and no accidents which proves my defensive driving is pretty well up there and drive to conditions and pay attention to the other F***Wits on the road. What part of ""I'm not complaining in regards to it not handling like a subaru"" dont you understand ??? As mentioned there were NO OTHER vehicles around, NO CHILDREN, was in an industrial area, 4 little flicks of the right boot and a slight flick of arse end and all of a sudden Im going to find myself a wreck ?? all done at virtually from nearly a walking pace, not like I was doing 40/60/80 klmh then decided to try it...........Please.......Watch out Butane, you will be next........