VW Racing's Quaife Diff....

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Originally Posted by Mook

Corrected for accuracy - don't forget that a properly sorted FWD car with the same or fewer bhp can often get round a track quicker than a 4WD car (Torsen or otherwise) because it's generally lighter

Nope. I was right. I merely stated traction. I certainly made no mention of "lap times".

[sternocleidomastoid]

[quote=RedRobin;1353235]....

(I don't know whether to address you as "Sterno" or "Mastoid" - the rest is too much of a mouthful!)

Yes, the Mk5 GTI has TC as part of ESP. The ESP can be switched off via a button in front of the gear stick. The ESP always defaults to being On whenever the ignition is switched on. On the road I always drive with ESP On - Imo it's not a matter of proving you're a man by switching it Off! But different cars behave differently.

Don't ask me about the exact structure regarding TC and ESP on the Mk5 - It gets complicated! But the TC icon in the speedo lights up every time the wheels are losing traction and signifies the ESP coming to the rescue.

One result of having a mechanical diff like the Quaife is that the TC sensor system is less frequently called upon to instruct the ESP (or however it works). In other words, the ESP follows the Quaife's physical responses rather than rely on electronic sensors which can either go wrong or get dirty like my Wheel Speed Sensors did and which probably then fooled my ESP into action which caused wheel snatching in compensation - Not confidence inspiring!!

Someone who knows more than I do may post that I'm talking bollox but I offer this as being to the best of my knowledge.

Having spent as much as £1,500 on any mod, the placebo effect naturally comes into play - You say to yourself (or your SWMBO) "Of course it works well - I spent all that money on it and of course I make the best decisions". However, the Quaife is something which has such a physical result that it's not simply your butt-dyno. Whether spending the money is worth it to you or not can only be your decision but I have no regrets and everybody who has either done the same or owned a FWD car with LSD already installed, has nothing but good to say about it - It's an often overlooked mod.

Cheers Robin. I think i'll wait and see what the january tax bill is before making any final decision. After owning the car for nearly a year an a half i didn't know it had TC as part of the esp. i must be being too careful with my right foot! (ps "sterno" is fine)

[shark_90]

Originally Posted by Teutonic_Tamer

The latest Passat has gone to Haldex, because it is based on the Golf 5 platform, rather than the Audi A4 platforms of old.

Good knowledge! I didn't know that it was based on the Golf platform, and that really puts me off now!

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Originally Posted by shark_90

Good knowledge! I didn't know that it was based on the Golf platform, and that really puts me off now!

The Golf 5 platform is actually very good. It is also used by the A3 and S3, and the TT. But it does miss the Torsen.

[shark_90]

And it's the Torsen I'd be missing I'm a bit of a quattro whore

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Originally Posted by shark_90

And it's the Torsen I'd be missing I'm a bit of a quattro whore

So based on that premis, you would have to turn down a Veyron then?

[Mook]

He would, but only because there wouldn't be any room for a sprog in the back

[shark_90]

I'd be interested to know how the Veyron's system works. 2 x Haldex couplings?

[Teutonic_Tamer]

Originally Posted by shark_90

I'd be interested to know how the Veyron's system works. 2 x Haldex couplings?

Yup.

One at the front and one at the rear. And it doesn't actually have any "centre" diff at all - both front and rear props are permanently driven at equal speeds. And I gather the actual Haldex units needed some serious uprating to cope with the extra torque, because the standard units (like on the TTq/S3/R32) do have a torque handling limit.