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YOUR RESEARCHHow does the 4WD work on the 996?
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Fill with a high-viscosity silicone fluid
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The space between these plates is filled with a high-viscosity silicone fluid.
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Suggestion
At the center of the Carrera 4�s intelligent all-wheel drive is a viscous clutch that reads traction at all four corners and instantly transfers an additional 5 to 40 percent of the engine�s power to the front axle for maximum grip, even on changing road surfaces.
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Suggestion
Did the new tires and camber setting solve the problem?
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Suggestion
At the center of the Carrera 4�s intelligent all-wheel drive is a viscous clutch that reads traction at all four corners and instantly transfers an additional 5 to 40 percent of the engine�s power to the front axle for maximum grip, even on changing road surfaces.
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Under normal driving conditions it's 5 percent front wheel, 92 percent rear wheel, and 3 percent center wheel... but maybe Porsche's website could articulate it better than I can:
At the center of the Carrera 4�s intelligent all-wheel drive is a viscous clutch that reads traction at all four corners and instantly transfers an additional 5 to 40 percent of the engine�s power to the front axle for maximum grip, even on changing road surfaces. The multiple-disc clutch consists of a series of interleaved plates. The space between these plates is filled with a high-viscosity silicone fluid. If the front and rear axles begin to rotate at different speeds, the frictional properties of the silicone fluid cause torque to be directed towards the plates that are rotating more slowly. At least 5 percent of drive torque is applied to the front wheels at all times. Under daily driving conditions, the average rear/front torque split is approximately 65/35, resulting in laser-true tracking at speed and unprecedented control through the tightest corners.
Rob - Good explanation!
Slowpoke - BTW, how did you make out on the rear wheel offset issue you posted few weeks ago? Did the new tires and camber setting solve the problem? Can you post some "before and after" pics?
Hey there Tim!
May 3rd will be judgement daay on this issue
Porsche dealer are having a super GT3 Cup Racing mechanic do my camber settings, 4 new tires are waiting if the camber doesn't solve the problem, will report then and take pics!
Thanks for the concern, it warms!
Slowpoke....if you don't have a center wheel, you are screwed. Immediately report to the Porsche service center near you, speak with the service manager, and have them install your center wheel.
Good one Eric! I was going to say something to Slowpoke about Rob's reference to the center wheel, 'cuz I know Slowpoke is in Europe, but I couldn't resist having the opportunity to hear his response.
I don't think Europeans totally get "American humor."
BTW, Rob - loved the center wheel thing!
Good question that I would like answers as well. Experience driving with it off would lead me to suspect that only 5% is set to the front and it doesn't transfer more power to the front.
PSM has no effect on the VC, viscous clutch/coupling, not directly anyway. The VC has an input "DRIVE" shaft, from the rear, and an output shaft to the front diff'l. Unless there is a disparate, different, rotational rate between these two shafts the viscous fluid remains in its "native", latent state, wherein it only couples about 5% of the drive torque from the rear to the front.
If the rear, primary drive, wheels develop some level of slip or spin (***) the VC fluid will quickly increase the coupling coefficient between the two sets of interleaved plates.
*** This is where PSM might have an indirect effect in that it will moderately apply braking to any slipping wheel or wheels while simultaneously dethrottling the engine thereby preventing any "reactive" VC activity.
I turn the PSM off on the track. Thr egas will chop your throttle right when you need it=exiting a hard corner with your right foot pinned and enjoying the surge of the front wheels getting in the game and snap you out of the corner. I am sure that in this scenario the ABD and limited slip are busy as well!. The AWD works the same with PSM on or off as it was well explained above.
My only track experience was at Daytona and I left the PSM on. There was only one time the tail wanted to come around and apparently I counter-steared quickly enough that the PSM did not activate. Had the same experience with a professional race driver at the wheel with me as passenger.
Apparently the activation of PSM is delayed just long enough to give the driver time to react and if the proper "moves" are made quickly enough PSM doesn't activate at all.
This is a source reference. Confirm exact model applicability in the original material.
