There are many different types of suspension systems that are being used on vehicles currently. Manufacturers are constantly developing vehicles to find balances across a variety of conditions. Leading to the suspension components of a vehicle, is the vehicle’s drivetrain. As with the suspension systems, manufacturers use a variety of different drivetrain designs to achieve specific results. Two of the most common drivetrain types are all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. While the names of the systems seem to indicate the same thing, they are actually very different from one another.
Understanding All-Wheel Drive Systems
An all-wheel drive system distributes power from an engine between the axles of a vehicle. For many vehicles, the all-wheel drive system uses a center differential to transfer power between the axles. When slipping is detected, all-wheel drive systems are able to send more power to the wheels that need traction.
All-Wheel Drive Advantages
All-wheel drive systems can be used on every surface. Additionally, many all-wheel drive systems can actively transfer power between the front and rear wheels of vehicles. The power transfer between the wheels on all-wheel drive vehicles is effortless and happens without drivers even noticing.
All-Wheel Drive Disadvantages
All-wheel drive systems can be costly to develop. Additionally, with more of an emphasis placed on being a well-rounded platform, all-wheel drive systems are less-capable for off-road usage than four-wheel drive systems.
Understanding Four-Wheel Drive Systems
A four-wheel drive system is a type of drivetrain that is actively activated by a driver for specific terrain conditions. A four-wheel drive system locks the front driveshaft and rear driveshaft of a vehicle to one another. This allows the driveshafts to move together in unison.
Four-Wheel Drive Advantages
Four-wheel drive systems allow the front and rear axles of vehicles to receive torque from the engines of the vehicles. This is beneficial on slippery surfaces as it allows all of the wheels on a vehicle to continue spinning. Therefore, for example, if the front wheels of a vehicle are unable to get traction, the rear wheels of the vehicle can propel the vehicle forward.
Four-Wheel Drive Disadvantages
Unlike all-wheel drive systems, four-wheel drive systems cannot be used at all times. In fact, most manufacturers explicitly warn drivers in the owner’s manuals of their vehicles to not use their four-wheel drive systems on dry pavement. A four-wheel drive system can destroy the entire driveline of its vehicle if the system is activated on a surface that is too dry. This is because of the system locking its two driveshafts. When a four-wheel drive system is activated, the driveshafts of the vehicle are able to receive the same amount of torque as one another by being locked together. This allows the two shafts to rotate evenly with one another. While this technique is useful on slippery surfaces, the front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle rotate at different speeds on dry surfaces.
The two driveshafts will combat each other on dry surfaces if they are locked with one another, ultimately placing unnecessary stress on the entire drivetrain of the vehicle.
Variations
There are many vehicles on the market that allow drivers to switch between all-wheel drive, four-wheel drive, and various other modes. More common with pickup trucks, these vehicles often have settings like “4Auto”, “4High”, “4Lo”, and more. Changing the driving modes on these vehicles results in the differentials of the vehicles being actively adjusted to accommodate the selected driving modes.
All-wheel drive systems vary tremendously from one another in the automotive market. All-wheel drive systems from the same manufacturers even vary between the different models that the manufacturer produces. When seeking to purchase an all-wheel drive vehicle or a four-wheel drive vehicle, make sure to do a little extra research or ask around so that you can purchase the vehicle that you want.
Conclusion
All-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles are both highly-capable vehicles that offer their own sets of advantages and disadvantages. If you are currently selecting between the two drivetrain types, your choice ultimately will come down to what you need and the primary usage that you will have for your vehicle. At Pogue Chevrolet GMC you will find a section of vehicles, some with all-wheel drive and others with four-wheel drive. Visit our dealership so that we can exemplify the differences between the two drivetrains and show you what each one has to offer. We will be glad to assist you with your needs and help you find the perfect vehicle.
