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08-19-2006, 10:21 PM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Manheim, PA
Posts: 473
|  4WD vs AWD
what are the differences or advantages of both..are they even different?
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98 sc2 manual
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08-20-2006, 02:14 AM
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#2 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Norcal
Posts: 554
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generally
AWD, all four wheels provide motion ALL the time.
4WD, two or four wheels provide motion, depending on whether it is engaged or not.
like i said, generally.
you can call a 4WD an AWD when engaged........
confused???
baldy 
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97 SW2, sleeper w/tricks, 56mm TB, CAI, oil catcher, plasma booster, front/REAR strut braces, drilled/slotted front/REAR, Eibachs, KYB2's, 225/40/17, unorthodox underdrive, SPS short shifter. SPS poly suspension and True HID lighting the way.... | |
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08-25-2006, 05:10 AM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 7,744
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Quote: |
Originally Posted by bldegle2 generally
AWD, all four wheels provide motion ALL the time.
4WD, two or four wheels provide motion, depending on whether it is engaged or not.
like i said, generally.
you can call a 4WD an AWD when engaged........
confused???
baldy | I thought it was the other way around, because usually AWD is on more car-like vehicles, while 4WD is usually more on trucks & stuff, and you select to be in 4WD mode or 2WD mode manually... | |
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08-25-2006, 05:47 AM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Norcal
Posts: 554
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Huh?
AWD, all four wheels ALWAYS engaged, no switch, and mostly on passenger cars, yes..........
4 wheel drive usually has the option, 2 wheel for highway, 4 wheel for snow/ice and off roadie.
i do believe we said the same thing.
baldy
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97 SW2, sleeper w/tricks, 56mm TB, CAI, oil catcher, plasma booster, front/REAR strut braces, drilled/slotted front/REAR, Eibachs, KYB2's, 225/40/17, unorthodox underdrive, SPS short shifter. SPS poly suspension and True HID lighting the way.... | |
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08-25-2006, 05:57 AM
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#5 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
Posts: 7,744
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Quote: |
Originally Posted by bldegle2 Huh?
AWD, all four wheels ALWAYS engaged, no switch, and mostly on passenger cars, yes..........
4 wheel drive usually has the option, 2 wheel for highway, 4 wheel for snow/ice and off roadie.
i do believe we said the same thing.
baldy | Well, that depends on how you define "all four wheels always engaged". Your typical AWD system acts like a 2WD (generally FWD) system until slipping occurs. Some might always send a small percentage of power to the other wheels until slipping occurs, but they generally don't constantly power all the wheels because it's inefficient. I wouldn't say that all 4 wheels are always engaged, but that the AWD system is always engaged...
symantics? details? probably not worth all this, sorry if I'm a pain. lol  | |
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08-25-2006, 03:06 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Appleton/Platteville WI
Posts: 3,149
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The technical difference is this:
AWD has 3 differentials. Front wheels, back wheels, and one between them.
4WD has 2. Front wheels, back wheels. There's a transfer case connecting the two, which is switchable, on and off.
The middle differential allows the front wheels to turn at a different rate than the rear wheels. Think about going around a corner. The front and rear wheels are spinning at different speeds. If you try to corner sharp with 4wd engauged, the tires start bucking and the car hops, and it's really not pleasant.
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11-28-2006, 01:28 AM
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#7 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7
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If you are looking for REAL off-road capability, you want 4WD with a transfer case. AWD as offered by Saturn is FWD until the RDM detects wheelspin, then the clutchpack locks-up and brings the rear axle online until the wheelspin is gone. It is NOT a rock crawler. You have NO control over it.
Great on twin tracks however!
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11-28-2006, 05:38 PM
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#8 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New Brunswick, Canada
Posts: 2,137
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Quote: |
Originally Posted by gornoman If you are looking for REAL off-road capability, you want 4WD with a transfer case. AWD as offered by Saturn is FWD until the RDM detects wheelspin, then the clutchpack locks-up and brings the rear axle online until the wheelspin is gone. It is NOT a rock crawler. You have NO control over it.
Great on twin tracks however! | I still think it's fun as hell in the snow.
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12-11-2006, 01:56 AM
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#9 | | Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7
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Quote: |
Originally Posted by barristo
I still think it's fun as hell in the snow.
| So is a 250 Yamaha!
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