4 Wheel Drive or 4X4

 Military vehicle or jeeps or suv’s have all the four

wheels as driving wheels. In this case there is a transfer
case in addition which divides the torque equally
between the front and the rear axles. In terms of
handling, traction and performance four wheel drive
systems generally have most of the advantages of both
front wheel drive and rear wheel drive.
 Part time 4wd
In this case you have high or low gear setting in transfer
case which means driver can switch to low gear if he
wants more torque or to high gear for normal driving
conditions or basic on road situations.
Driver can switch to 2wd or 4wd as per his wish.
 Full time 4wd
In this we have hi gear and low gear setting like part time
4wd but the driver cant switch to 2wd or 4wd as per his
wish.
Advantages
 1. Cornering stability: Since power is transmitted equally by all four
tires instead of by only two, the load on each tire is reduced and the
tires’ cornering force can be effectively utilized, providing excellent
stable cornering.
 2. Straight-line stability: With 4WD, since the amount of surplus grip
provided by each tire is increased, external turbulence has no effect on
the vehicle. Thus stable straight-line stability is achieved.
 3. Starting and acceleration performance The amount of tire grip
with 4WD is approximately double that of 2WD vehicles, so even if the
vehicle is equipped with a high-output engine, the tires do not spin
when the vehicle starts off or during acceleration. This greatly improves
starting and acceleration performance.
 4. Hill-climbing performance Since the available power is
approximately double that of a 2WD vehicle, a 4WD vehicle can climb
hills that a 2WD vehicle is incapable of climbing.
Disadvantages
 4wd systems require more m/c and complex
transmission components which increase cost.
 Maintenance also high compared to 2wd
 These systems increase power train mass, rotational
inertia and power transmission losses, resulting in a
reduction acceleration in ideal dry conditions.
 Increased fuel consumption compared to 2wd designs
 Hand brake cannot be used to induce over steer as the
drive train couples the front and rear axles together
All Wheel Drive
There are many definitions given by automobile
companies for AWD here we will be discussing
AWD
Automatic AWD
AWD : It is like full time 4WD except there is no
selection between hi and lo gear.
Auto AWD : it will drive only two wheels either front or
back. When one set of wheels lose traction it will send
power to other wheels there switching is done by ECU.
VISCOUS COUPLINGS
 Drum filled with thick silicone fluid
 Houses several thin steel discs
 Splits engine torque according to the needs of each
axle.
 Prevents wheel scuffing along pavement.
 Used on 4WD and AWD
Transfer case
 4WD Shift Controls
 Electric switch or shift
lever
 Allows the driver to select
which axles receive power
 Power can be directed to:
 all four wheels
 two wheels
 none (neutral)
 Some vehicles have a
low-speed range that can
be selected
NEUTRAL
 Power flows into
Transfer case with no
output.
2 WHEEL HIGH
 Power flow to
rear wheels
only.
 No reduction
4 WHEEL LOW
 Power flows to both
front & rear axles.
 In reduction
Jaguar AWD

Subaru AWD