Flexfunk

I got stuck in the snow this week-end with my 1988 5000CDQT.

I decided to challenge one of the snowy Montreal back alleys... It won! The four wheels were spinning, the car was sitting on top of packed snow. We had to dig under the car for one hour. When we finally got unstuck... We got stuck again!

I can safely say that it takes a hell of a lot of snow to stop this car!
I also realized how much digging is a good exercise...

Good clean fun!

RussB

Please forgive my ignorance.

Without LSD, all you need to get truly stuck is to hang up one rear wheel and one front wheel so that they're both off the ground. The differentials will apply full power to the unloaded wheels and you'll go nowhere.

I did this with a "4 wheel drive" Jeep Cherokee on a snowy Catskills approach to a trailhead in mid-winter. While reversing out, a rear wheel slid off the trail and the whole car nearly slid down a 50 foot slope into a ravine. It was hung up on the ridge, with one wheel of each axle in the air. I hiked out and used a tow operator's electric winch and trees to pull the car out. Whew!

After this experience, I promised that if I ever buy a 4-wheel drive vehicle for its traction in the backcountry, I'll specify LSD.

But, do quattros have LSDs?

5KSQuattro

Actually both the center and rear differentials are lockable using a **** on the dash. Basically, turning it to position 1 locks the center diff and at position 2 it locks the rear diff in addition to the center one leaving only the front one open. From the way Flexflunk describes his predicament, it sounds as though the car got high-centered on a snowbank leaving the tires with inadequate contact surface or tractive weight to bail the car out.

Richard M.<ul><li><a href="http://community.webshots.com/photo/65401687/65473432bVYelZ">http://community.webshots.com/photo/65401687/65473432bVYelZ</a</li></ul>

RussB

That sounds better than I expected a sedan to have. I like the ability to engage the locks manually when needed.

For all its macho pose, the Cherokee was disappointing in the crunch.

Flexfunk

I do have the diff lock option. Works well for getting out of snow filled parking spots.

cuatrokoop

Front diff. is open, but can be replaced with a Quaife LSD...

squidix9

on trying to parallel park ever. :-P

cuatrokoop

heh, true...

Low speed manuevers on asphalt/concrete are tough enough with just locked center/rear diffs. Adding the LSD to the front would make it darn near impossible...

verboten1

i never had any prob in my 83 callaway jetta with quaife

cuatrokoop

yes, but that is only FWD...try manuevering an AWD car with locked center and rear. Lots of revs and clutch slipping required. Add an LSD to the front, and you need even more clutch slipping.

Different drivelines, different behavior, different animals completely...