The ancient debate between front, rear or four wheel drive rages on and on among car fans all over the world but here at CWS we have already made our mind up. Four wheel drive just provides the best of all worlds and allows you to go pretty much anywhere with utter ease.
A question that we are often asked though is ‘How does it all work?’
The first step in the process is that the rotational power is generated in the car’s engine, now we’d love to go into the nitty gritty of how this power is generated but this infographic covers it perfectly. So once the power is generated, where to then…
From the Engine to…
First stop for the power once it leaves that engine is the vehicle’s gearbox, which translates the high speed movement of the engine into a slower movement that will propel the car.
In 4x4s the transmission often has a low range function which is designed to move the wheels as slowly and effectively as possible. By moving the wheels exceptionally slowly, a low range gearbox can help 4x4s perform well even in low traction conditions.
From the Transmission to…
Next stop for all this power is the central differential, sometimes called the transfer box which is responsible for splitting this power between all four wheels. In modern 4x4s this central diff is often computer controlled and works with the traction control system to assess the amount of power that will be sent to each wheel.
Should a wheel be detected as spinning at a faster rate, power to it will be reduced and increased to the other wheels in order to exploit the traction available.
From the Central Differential to…
Once it is properly appropriated, the power is then taken on to either of the two prop shafts that take the power either forwards or backwards. The propshafts are a very high stress area of the drive train and can easily become damaged as they are the first element of the drive train that is exposed to the elements.
Those that do any kind of serious off-roading regularly will be very familiar with propshaft repairs and replacing this vital part of the drive train.
From the Propshafts to…
Before getting to the road the power is then sent to another differential (front or rear) where the power is meted out between the pair of wheels. These differentials are vital for the controllability of the car as they allow the wheels to move at different speeds, which is vital when cornering.
Many modern 4x4s have a torque vectoring system present in these differentials which allows torque to be constantly adjusted between the wheels.
From the Rear/Front Differentials to…
After the differentials it’s a short trip down a final drive shaft and then straight to the road via the wheels and tyres for all that power. Once it’s on the road then there’s no stopping it; whether you’re using these mechanics for a trip to Tesco or Timbuktu, in a quality 4×4 you know that it will always get you there.
We hope that this little explanation has helped you to further understand exactly how your 4×4 works. Stay tuned to our blog for more informative articles on all things four wheel drive!
If your 4×4 is a little worse for wear then don’t worry as we are expert providers of 4×4 parts and are sure to be able to help you out. Simply contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you get on the road, and indeed off it again soon!