-----Original Message-----
From: Gemery@aol.com <Gemery@aol.com>
To: autox@autox.team.net <autox@autox.team.net>
Cc: jamies@mrj.com <jamies@mrj.com>
Date: Thursday, July 01, 1999 2:11 PM
Subject: Re: WTB: Prelude ATTS
>Jamie Sculerati writes:
>> Nope -- it's not a Torsen. It's sort of a pre-emptive differential --
power
>> distribution in the transaxle is governed by steering angle and wheel
>speed.
>
>Yuck! Why?
>
>I suppose, then, that they use viscuous differential? Or how else would
they
>control the torque distribution with those inputs? On the surface, it
still
>sounds
>like a Torsen, only not nearly as effective.
The system uses a series of hydraulically-actuated clutches to engage a
planetary gearset. It's a means of increasing steering response without
increasing the slip angle of the front tires -- which, for a front-driver,
reduces the rather abrupt transition to understeer (or to oversteer when you
start to plow and lift of the throttle). It's not a bad idea for
steady-state cornering -- after all, the general driving population doesn't
run slaloms! I think it will probably go the way of the 4-wheel steering
systems offered for the 3d and 4th generation cars, though -- it doesn't
make enough apparent difference to most drivers to justify the extra
expense.
Jamie
'92 Prelude Si
Speed Demon Racing
http://www.mindspring.com/~jsculerati/sdr
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