Ok, so been doing some research and can't really confirm anything yet.

Was looking up specks on the different years of A4, and found that the '97 a4 1.8t manual comes with a "locking differential" and the 2001 comes with a "Limited Slip Center Differential". Now i've been trying to find what exactly the differences are, some places say that they are completely interchangeable words, but i doubt thats the case.

lets say on ice... does a locking diff just lock the wheels together and they all spin at exact same speeds, then what does the LSD do different?

 

I think the LSD will send more power to the wheel that has the most traction, and less power to the wheel with the least traction.

 

I think LSD will help you to smell colors and taste sounds. Sorry, I had to. But I have to legitimate answer to your question.

 

haha classy audi_noob, it probably does help smell colors, but i guess sick boy's answer is sorta on the right track, would help get more power down to the parts that matter... but how exactly does it do it, does it compromise the 50/50 front/rear split?

 

This is according to AudiZine Technical School.

Except the first generation Quattro system that appeared in the early Quattro coupe, most of the subsequent Quattro systems used Torsen differential in center and rear axles. This is rather expensive. However, Torsen-equipped 4WD has many advantages. First of all, its pure mechanical parts react almost instantly to tyre slip. Secondly, it provides linear lock-up characteristic. Thirdly, it is a strictly permanent 4WD system. In normal condition, torque split between front and rear wheels is 50:50 (other ratios are possible, depends on the pitch of worm gears).

http://www.autozine.org/technical_sc...tion_4wd_2.htm

Good Luck...

 

i think these words are just interchangable. torsen is technically a limited slip diff and as for locking diff, no B5 had a true locking diff, they came with something called EDL (electronic diff lock) which all is did was brake the wheel that had lmited traction so the opposite wheel would get the power since the front and rear diffs were open.

 

sweet, redrum that was pretty helpful, nice to know whats actually going on in that little quattro box

 

Locking diffs in my experience are only really worth getting if you do lots of off-roading or drag racing. The locker will lock the axles it controls together. So let's say you have a pickup truck and you install a locker, the locker will lock the axles together so they spin at the same speeds. Lockers don't detect wheel spin and generally don't lock automatically. They also don't let the wheels spin at different speeds in turns so they aren't very good for on-highway use. There is a locker out there (I forget the name now, I'll look it up later) that stays locked constantly but will unlock for turns. A limited slip or posi-trac setup allows the drive wheel to operate by itself in dry conditions but when it senses wheel spin, will either lock the rear diff or send power to the other wheel. So if you have an LSD and you do a burn out, the LSD will sense the spin of the drive wheel and send power to the other wheel as well so the vehicle can get traction. A good way to tell if someone has an LSD after they do a burnout is you'll see the rubber from the drive wheel then after some distance you'll see rubber from the other wheel as well. Guys who do weekend wheeling will frequently use an LSD out back and a locker up front since it's more street friendly. Hope this helped you out some. If you have anymore questions please don't hesitate to ask.

 

I have done many searches on how a true factory Quattro system does operate. I have gotten conflicting information most of the time. The above is for 1996 and up Generation VI Quattro systems. Mine seems to have Torsen in center and rear differentials. And uses EDL for the front axle. I thought the information you wanted was for a Factory system. Yes I know about all the others too. Through the years I have built almost any kind of car you can imagine from scratch. You have to remember I have belonged to a Trades Union for more years than most of you have been alive. But we won't get into that here. I'm retired and staying that way.

Good Luck...

 

no dude quattro 4 was open rear and front, torsen T2 was only in the center.