So I parked half way in the snow, with my left tires in about 5 inches. When I went to leave, My left tires were the only ones spinning. So why didnt the power transfer to the right tires which were on dry road? Odd, I ve never had a problem before and I had to rock it to get out.

 

 

 

Maybe she was just mad at me for driving her 50 miles to buy a new Legacy, which was sold 10 minutes before I got to the dealer I might add.

Because your car has open differentials in the front and back. If one wheel on each axle spins, you go nowhere. Open diffs cannot transfer the torque to the wheel with grip.

 

One trick is to try applying the parking brake a bit. This will slow the spinning rear wheel, and "may" transfer enough torque to the other rear wheel to get you moving.

 

Commuter

We have had plenty of snow and ice here lately, and I find that although the wheels on one side may spin, the car still moves. Are you running winter tyres?

I have new all weather tires

Hm, I didn't have any problems this winter. I run all season tires. Some times two tires would start spinning, but then the other two kicked in and all was good.

Hm, I didn't have any problems this winter. I run all season tires. Some times two tires would start spinning, but then the other two kicked in and all was good.

 

Yea, I was fine until recently. I just couldnt get the right side to go. No problems on the ice today though.

Have you gotten the tranny and drive train looked at?

Because your car has open differentials in the front and back. Commuter

 

Really, for both autos and manuals? That would be a sad way to disable an AWD system to save a few bucks.

Really, for both autos and manuals? That would be a sad way to disable an AWD system to save a few bucks.

I'm not sure of which car he was referring, but I know none of the late 90's Legacys had LSDs. I don't think the Imprezas did either. They've come back on various models since 2000. Rear LSDs anyway. Front LSD is quite rare to my knowledge.

 

Keep in mind that most (?) 2wd cars only have open differentials. It's not as bad as it sounds. People erroneously think that AWD means that if only ONE wheel has grip, they should move. Not the case.

 

Commuter

I'm not sure of which car he was referring, but I know none of the late 90's Legacys had LSDs. I don't think the Imprezas did either. They've come back on various models since 2000. Rear LSDs anyway. Front LSD is quite rare to my knowledge.

 

Keep in mind that most (?) 2wd cars only have open differentials. It's not as bad as it sounds. People erroneously think that AWD means that if only ONE wheel has grip, they should move. Not the case.

 

Commuter

This is very true, most people do not understand how AWD works, nor do they understand the difference betwen a locked and open diff. The car in this thread is working as desinged.

Well, that's odd. When I took my Forester XT for a test drive the salesman had me pull off the road and stop, so that my right tires were in about 6 - 8 inches of snow and the left tires were on the pavement. Then he told me to take off. It was like the snow wasn't there.

so what about the commercials with the slogan 'transfer power from the wheels that slip to the wheels that grip'?

 

or is the difference between when one wheel is spinning completely free, versus slipping in the snow?

 

 

I too had this problem last winter in my 88 GL. Stuck, while my roommate laughed at me since his forunner made it through just fine.

The 4runner should have gotten stuck too, it was probably the clearance that got you. If the car dosn't have a LSD in the rear, it can get stuck with only 2 wheels in the snow. They really should have lsd's front and rear, but they dont. The AWD cars can get stuck if you drop 1 wheel in a hole. I tested this, and had to recind my statments to the contrary.

So is our awd useless then? I'm all confused. I get around no problem in snow and mud and stuff.

So is our awd useless then? I'm all confused. I get around no problem in snow and mud and stuff.

 

Not at all. Even with open diffs you still have at worst case two wheels with traction ability instead of one on a two wheel drive car. The reason some get stuck on the side of the road and some don't means that the conditions were that bad in certain situations. The transfer of power from one wheel to the other means front and back not side to side( with open diff). Subaru's still have a big advantage over other awd designs. AWD does not equal locked differential. Yet locked diffs can't be driven on dry pavement. I agree that LSD would be sweet front and back.

So is our awd useless then? I'm all confused. I get around no problem in snow and mud and stuff.

Check out this thread

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22383

Ooohhhhh, ok. I get it now. So I guess I shouldn't be taking my car on Jeep trails and stuff. Well, oh well. I'm still gonna, hehe.

 

Now to lift it and get some meatier tires.

HELLO?

 

Y'all are overlooking something very important when you yearn for LSD - especially if you want it at both ends.

 

What will happen when you are on the side of the road, left wheels on tarmac, right wheels in snow. The LSD's will make sure that most of the torque goes to the left wheels. WHERE WILL THE CAR GO? Straight into the ditch. The unbalanced torque on the left wheels will steer the car. Open diffs prevent this happening.

 

Decent tyres and a lighter right foot will allow you to get free.

 

Proper off-road vehicles don't have LSD, they have locking diffs. These are not the same. The locked diff forces wheels on both sides to rotate with the same speed. THAT is what allows them to crawl uphill even if two wheels on the same side are slipping. The extra grip on the opposing side will still cause some yaw, but it won't be nearly as pronounced as with LSD.

 

LSD is for on-road handling.

Well, if it is an auto, just try this: accelerate a little and keep your left foot at the same time a little bit on the brake. The braking session will stop the spinning on both weels on the right side and brings the torque to the left side that are not spinning/moving. then the car moves out of the snow/ice/mud.

 

Happend to me a lot, too. This "trick" works well!

 

Cheers,

Inday

HELLO?

 

Y'all are overlooking something very important when you yearn for LSD - especially if you want it at both ends.

 

What will happen when you are on the side of the road, left wheels on tarmac, right wheels in snow. The LSD's will make sure that most of the torque goes to the left wheels. WHERE WILL THE CAR GO? Straight into the ditch. The unbalanced torque on the left wheels will steer the car. Open diffs prevent this happening.

 

QUOTE]

 

LOL. I hope in this situation the driver would know to cut the wheels hard left.

Check out this thread

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22383

 

 

That was a pretty cool thread if I don't say so myself.

HELLO?

 

Y'all are overlooking something very important when you yearn for LSD - especially if you want it at both ends.

 

What will happen when you are on the side of the road, left wheels on tarmac, right wheels in snow. The LSD's will make sure that most of the torque goes to the left wheels. WHERE WILL THE CAR GO? Straight into the ditch. The unbalanced torque on the left wheels will steer the car. Open diffs prevent this happening.

 

QUOTE]

 

LOL. I hope in this situation the driver would know to cut the wheels hard left.

 

Well yeah, isn't that common sense?

 

Well yeah, isn't that common sense?

 

It amazes me the number of people who lack it. (not directed at setright)

HELLO?

 

Y'all are overlooking something very important when you yearn for LSD - especially if you want it at both ends.

 

What will happen when you are on the side of the road, left wheels on tarmac, right wheels in snow. The LSD's will make sure that most of the torque goes to the left wheels. WHERE WILL THE CAR GO? Straight into the ditch. The unbalanced torque on the left wheels will steer the car. Open diffs prevent this happening.

 

Decent tyres and a lighter right foot will allow you to get free.

 

Proper off-road vehicles don't have LSD, they have locking diffs. These are not the same. The locked diff forces wheels on both sides to rotate with the same speed. THAT is what allows them to crawl uphill even if two wheels on the same side are slipping. The extra grip on the opposing side will still cause some yaw, but it won't be nearly as pronounced as with LSD.

 

LSD is for on-road handling.

Very good point, once again most people do not know the difference between an open diff, a LSD diff, and a locked Diff.

 

My old CJ had Detroit lockers front and rear (locked) in is terrible in the snow and wet in on road driving conditions.

How easy / difficult is it to add LSD to a 2000 or later Subaru?