SWMBO fancies a MPV to accommodate daughters, grandkids and shopping etc. Whilst looking at this and that I noticed that some Toyota Lucida / Estimas are permanently engaged in 4 wheel drive. I was under the impression that this causes damage if driving on tarmac or non slippery surfaces for some distance.
Did a Google search and found these answers:-
Permanent four wheel drive sends torque to all four wheels on a continuous basis. There is no option for two wheel drive but the driver can usually choose a high or low mode depending on the driving conditions.
The motor vehicle comprises a first driven axle coupled by means of a transmission shaft to a second axle which includes two half-shafts between which is interposed a differential, and a controlled coupling device interposed between this differential and one half-shaft of the second axle, and an electronic control unit ECU arranged to control the said coupling device in such a way as to control the transfer of torque from the transmission shaft to this half-shaft in a predetermined manner.
I get the gist of it, but to cut a long story short, does this just mean an ECU controls the torque to each wheel allowing it to run in permant 4WD?
Did a Google search and found these answers:-
Permanent four wheel drive sends torque to all four wheels on a continuous basis. There is no option for two wheel drive but the driver can usually choose a high or low mode depending on the driving conditions.
The motor vehicle comprises a first driven axle coupled by means of a transmission shaft to a second axle which includes two half-shafts between which is interposed a differential, and a controlled coupling device interposed between this differential and one half-shaft of the second axle, and an electronic control unit ECU arranged to control the said coupling device in such a way as to control the transfer of torque from the transmission shaft to this half-shaft in a predetermined manner.
I get the gist of it, but to cut a long story short, does this just mean an ECU controls the torque to each wheel allowing it to run in permant 4WD?
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