Chrysler laser 1990 Technical Information Manual page 234

Conventional 4WD systems (direct-coupled 4WD,
or center differential type 4WDl have their own
merits and demerits; they rely on manual operation
(switching between 4WD and 2WD modes, center
differential locking) to cope with their demerits.
With this new 4WD system, the viscous coupling
built in the center differential automatically performs
Center
differential
difference
I
MANUAL TRANSAXLE <4WD>
Rear
differential
Viscous AuDk?
ce
Turning
direction
such operations used to be made manually. The
driver can participate with the merits of 4WD at all
viscous coupling under representative conditions
are described in the following section.
During normal driving
During normal driving (traveling straight on a level road at a
constant speed), the four wheels rotate at nearly the same
speed. Since there is no rotating speed difference among the
four wheels, the viscous coupling does not apply differential
limiting torque and the three differentials distribute drive power
equally to all of the wheels.
During a sharp turn
During a sharp turn, in addition to the rotating speed difference
between the left and right wheels, a small difference in rotati
speeds between the front and rear wheels also occurs.
Such rotational speed difference is absorbed by the differential
action of the three differentials, thereby allowing smooth
driving.
The rotational speed difference is also transmitted to the
viscous coupling but the difference is so small that the coupling
makes almost no differential limiting torque application conse-
quently it does not affect the differential action of the center
differential.
When starting out and accelerating
When starting out and accelerating, the center of gravity of the
vehicle shifts towards the rear increasing the rear wheel load
and decreasing the front wheel load. The center differenti"
causes less drive power to be transmitted to the rear whee.
resulting in a lower driving torque. At the same time, however,
the rotational speed difference between the front and rear
wheels increases and the viscous coupling operates to limit the
differential action of the center differential. securing a supply of
drive power to the rear wheels. In this way, performance when
starting out and accelerating is secured.