4wd whats the difference

[5.0 ED]

Ok this may sound like a dum question, but whats the difference between 4 x 4, 4 x 2 and awd?

[ToCo]

Well i believe AWD is constant 4x4
4x4 can change between 4x2 and 4x4
feel free to correct If i am wrong

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by 5.0whiteaughia

Ok this may sound like a dum question, but whats the difference between 4 x 4, 4 x 2 and awd?

AWD is the system cars like the WRX / Evo's and (Territory??) have. No low range box, just start, press the go pedal and all 4 wheels get power.

4x4 i would imagine refers to serious off road four wheel drives, with separate box for 4 wheel drive, and genuine off road ability.

4x2 is a 4x4 with the front hubs not locked in for 4x4.

[bd737]

This explains it:

http://www.essortment.com/hobbies/fo...drive_serk.htm

[Green X]

AWD= Power is split 60-40, 70-30, 50-50 or what ever may be between front and rear, No center diff lock so Drive shafts are not Locked to each other also no Low range gear set.

4*4= low and high range gear set, center Diff Lock to enable Locked 50-50 toque split between front and rear axle's

4*2= Rear wheel drive only.

Different systems that can incorporate all 3 systems on the one car.

[vanman_75]

awd equals bad tyre wear,but great traction ,only problem when you get stuck you have no more options bar a winch.
4x4 second gearstick /button to engage second diff ,true 4 wheel drive includes diff locks as the diffs will no doubt have limited slip or single spinner hense 3 wheel drive,
4x2 is sales pitch just a 2 wheel drive ,4 wheels.

[flappist]

AWD means trendy looking large square thing on wheels normally driven on weekdays by young mothers and latte swilling metrosexuals.

4X4 means trendly looking even larger square thing with lots of macho accessories, stickers and really big shiny wheels normally driven on weekends by very short men with beards, big hats and khaki shirts.

4X2 mean piece of timber used in construction or other form of manual work and is normally not found anywhere near either of the above.

[Dezza]

Probably best way to sum it up:

4x4:


4x2:


AWD:


Basically the 4x4 is the best off road with it's duel range transfer case. The AWD can still drive through all 4 wheels but really aren't off roaders. The 4x2 only drives through 2 wheels.

[ZA-289]

4x2 means it has 4x4 suspension and wheels etc, but no front diff.

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by ZA-289

4x2 means it has 4x4 suspension and wheels etc, but no front diff.

thats what i was thinking...

[geckoGT]

Everyone here has assumed AWD is for soft roaders and sports cars, not strictly true.

All AWD means is you can not select 2WD, it always drives all wheels. Many of the true capable "4WD" vehicles are in fact AWD, meaning they always drive 4 wheels. Examples are the Toyota Land Cruiser in the upper specs and the best example is the Land Rover 110 series, military spec as used by the Australian Army. People consider these as 4WD but you can not select 2WD so therefore they are actually AWD.

Examples of 4WD are Hilux, Jeep, base spec Land Cruiser 100 series etc. A dead give away is 4WD normally have some form of locking hubs on the front, either manual or automatic, AWD do not.

2WD is a commercial vehicle with a similar look and chassis as the 4WD version but only has 2WD. The suspension is different as well, no where near as much ground clearance and built a lot lighter.

Hope that makes sense.

[vanman_75]

you wont do this in a 2 wheel drive

[Brent]

And don't forget to be aware of the common misconception that 4WDs or AWDs are ALWAYS driving off 4 wheels. They don't. They may do so when driving in a straight line, but as soon as you turn a corner, the centre diff splits the torque, usually between one front wheel, and one rear wheel to allow for the different distance being travelled between the wheels on the 'inside' of the corner compared to those on the 'outside' of the corner.

Also, in conventional 4WD setups, the front and rear diff will apportion power to the wheels with the least traction. i.e. if you place 2 wheels on the tarmac and two in the gravel, then floor it, the ones in the gravel will be fed the power and will spin away merrily. Yes, there are exceptions with some systems, especially those which allow you to 'lock' the front or rear diff.

Just good to know, because some people wonder why their shiny new 4WD refuses to move when they've pulled off the road into a muddy verge but still have 2 wheels on the bitumen.

[chevypower]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

.......All AWD means is you can not select 2WD, it always drives all wheels.......

True in a lot of cases, but my Silverado has 4x2 Hi, 4x4 Hi, 4x4 Low and an AUTO (AWD) option - though I don't know how similar or different it is with full time AWDs, i hear transfer case noise when i select it.
To me, 4x4 is only for driving on dirt or slick roads, and AWD can be used on dry sealed roads or slick roads.

[geckoGT]

Originally Posted by chevypower

True in a lot of cases, but my Silverado has 4x2 Hi, 4x4 Hi, 4x4 Low and an AUTO (AWD) option - though I don't know how similar or different it is with full time AWDs, i hear transfer case noise when i select it.
To me, 4x4 is only for driving on dirt or slick roads, and AWD can be used on dry sealed roads or slick roads.

Very true, with all these new systems giving various forms of torque split, diff lock and automatic activation, the difference between 4WD and AWD is very much a grey area and more often than not it depends what the manufacturer wants to call it. It seems that most of the true off road vehicles tend to use the term 4WD rather than AWD, just to give that notion of off road capability.

I would imagine that on your vehicle in the auto setting it is actually 2WD until it detects wheel slip, then changes the distrbution of drive to the wheels that grip. Therefore this would not be AWD (which by definition always drives 4 wheels) but some form of hybrid of 2WD and 4WD.

An interesting setup is in the Mazda CX7/CX9 which is marketed as AWD SUV although it actually only drives the fronts normally, directing drive to the rear when wheel slip is detected. I prime example of definition of drive systems being very grey.

[5.0 ED]

ok good to read seing that there is some confusion between replies as well, that none of them really fit into a dead set catagory.

[YOOT]

This is a good video on how the numerous different AWD systems work:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ooQRxlChvMw

Its very interesting to see that most AWD systems are really 2WD and that traction control systems are more effective than diff locks (but not a complete substitute).

Some people think that AWD can't diff lock, this is untrue. Subarus have two centre diffs depending auto or manual transmission. The autos get a VCCD which varies torque from FWD to 50:50 LOCK under full throttle 1st/2nd gear. The manuals get a 50:50 LSD centre that LOCKS under full throttle or high load. Effectively making it as effective as a transfer case in a conventional dual range 4WD. You can still get the subaru crossed up with one diagonal wheel front and back spinning in the same ditches as my Narvara. But you simply can not spin only one wheel as you can with an AWD Territory.

I have had both the Narvara and Subaru on the same beaches and the Subaru eats the Naravara alive for sand ability. The sub handles and grips like a car on bitumen. The Narvara understeers and snakes around, making the driver a passenger. the only andvantage is teh ground clearance allows you to go slower through rough and deep sand tracks, but its much more fun in the Sub!

[vanman_75]

i forgot to ask is this to settle an arguement or just for some general knowledge ,purchase of a car for a said purpose ???

[ebxr8240]

AWD was to differentiate between truck type vehicles and cars like Subaru, Mitsi Evo, Mazda etc

[NC1183]

Originally Posted by geckoGT

Very true, with all these new systems giving various forms of torque split, diff lock and automatic activation, the difference between 4WD and AWD is very much a grey area and more often than not it depends what the manufacturer wants to call it. It seems that most of the true off road vehicles tend to use the term 4WD rather than AWD, just to give that notion of off road capability.

I would imagine that on your vehicle in the auto setting it is actually 2WD until it detects wheel slip, then changes the distrbution of drive to the wheels that grip. Therefore this would not be AWD (which by definition always drives 4 wheels) but some form of hybrid of 2WD and 4WD.

An interesting setup is in the Mazda CX7/CX9 which is marketed as AWD SUV although it actually only drives the fronts normally, directing drive to the rear when wheel slip is detected. I prime example of definition of drive systems being very grey.

The R32 thru R34 (not sure on the new GT-R) Skyline GT-R's normally drive the rear wheels till the computer detects wheelspin then it engages a hydrulic clutch pack transfer case to provide drive to the front wheels in any ratio between 95:5(R:F) to 50:50

[5.0 ED]

Nah I asked the question just for general knowledge seeing i know absolutely nothing about 4wd's.

[FGII-XR6]

AWD is a 4WD that they don't want to call a 4WD because people think of a 4WD as a truck after all 4WD only means all wheels are driven just as in AWD

[vanman_75]

Originally Posted by 5.0whiteaughia

Nah I asked the question just for general knowledge seeing i know absolutely nothing about 4wd's.

cool i hope you getting a bit out of it

[Green X]

Originally Posted by Brent

Just good to know, because some people wonder why their shiny new 4WD refuses to move when they've pulled off the road into a muddy verge but still have 2 wheels on the bitumen.

haha yeah, I love the Detroit Diff in me Hilux. :

[AusM]

Originally Posted by vanman_75

you wont do this in a 2 wheel drive

Company cars do it, given enough momentum!


I think this thread clears up the fact that the terms are badly used and there's lots of ambiguity!

[snakeoil]

very funny flappist great post

My V8 Explorer has never been off road as I cant be bothered .It was bought to tow a big boat and did it very well and saved our asses on two ocassions

It does have selectable dual range tranny but I reckon the front and rear overhang possibly would impede things and mud locking a michelin tyre would be pretty easy..

On the highway the thing gets 10 litres per 100 klms and is a beaut to drive which is why I am keeping it.Love it

[Jim83]

Originally Posted by au3xr6

AWD is a 4WD that they don't want to call a 4WD because people think of a 4WD as a truck after all 4WD only means all wheels are driven just as in AWD

Spot on. Unless your car has more (or less) then 4 wheels, AWD and 4WD are the same thing.

4x2 means the car has 4 wheels and only 2 of them are driven (this includes falcons).

[GORDZ]

i'd say the Falcon ute is RWD, and the Falcon RTV ute is 4x2 =)