Lots of people are wondering what quattro looks like and how it works. Basically its a tractor differential named after Torsen, this is the Torsen differential. No electronics, (un-less you have a TT or A3) fully mechanical gear, really simple design but almost never fails. This is a diff i took out for someone to upgrade it to the Stasis model for more rear wheel drive traction, enjoy.

 

tttttttiiiiigggggghhhhhhttttttttttt

 

genius design. so which thing locks the rear wheels at slow speeds?

 

Its all sitting right there, you really have to play with the thing to understand it, the inner case spins the oposite way of the outer casing, or vice versa. Its really hard to explain, im sure there is a huge write up on it somewhere in wikepedia or something because the Torsen has been around forever.

 

The Torsen differential is the center differential (Front/Rear distribution), there's also an electronicrear locking differential that unlocks at speeds greater than 15mph. At least, that's how I understand it - I may be wrong.

Cool pics, auditech79!

 

OOPS, yeah i read the question wrong.

 

so on our cars where is something like this located? i kno in most cars the diff. is in the axel if it has a simple drive-train like FWD or RWD, but in a quattro where is something like this?

 

Its right in the tail housing of the trans, its pretty easy to take out too.
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thanks. i gotta look one day and see how a AWD car actully works cause i kno how the other types are set up with engine, trans, and drivetrain, but i dont know anything about how AWD's work.

 

Well there is lots of different types, the TT and A3 uses the Haldex system. Which basically is a full time front wheel drive car until the system detects the slightest wheel slippage then the haldex unit pulses the rear wheels hundreds of times a second to make AWD. Its not quite as good as the Torsen, but its a lighter in weight.