Mazda/Mazdaspeed 6 Autocross Thread

[Rix6]

Wow, I've been in a serious debate about this in another forum, but suffice to say that unless there is front wheel spin, the torque applied F/R is essentially equal.

Oh, and note the Speed6 doesn't have a center differential, only a mechanical slipper-clutch very similar to a wet motorcycle clutch.

Agreed that if there is no front wheel spin, front rear torque is split equally with clutch locked. But the condition we were talking about was hard acceleration and racing conditions. There will be front wheel spin and therefore the rear axle could see much more than 50% torque loading.

 

[FORZDA 1]

Here's a link to what I was proposing the other day:

http://www.hpamotorsports.com/haldex.htm

Similar design but for our cars. Not cheap, but it might offer a solution for us.

I posted in the Cobb forum, and, as I thought, the AWD system is controlled by another portion of the vehicle, which the AP cannot control.

Yes, the AWD has a separate stand-alone module located next to the ECU.

The device in the link won't do anything for our cars. If you check out the rear coupling function, you'll see there is a pilot clutch which functions to activate the ball/ramp mechanism for the main clutch. The whole affair works like a LSD where any difference in rotational speed drives the ball up the ramp and applies more clamping force to the rear coupling main clutch to increase torque to the rear wheels. Note that I've tested the AWD function and the ball/ramp doesn't allow any significant difference before the coupling is essentially locked and will stay locked as long as the force applied is large enough to clamp the main clutch solidly. The front tires rotate less than one turn before the rear is locked in.

Even with the pilot clutch "on" continuously, the amount of rear drive is determined by the ball/ramp and main clutch slippage...

 

[FORZDA 1]

Agreed that if there is no front wheel spin, front rear torque is split equally with clutch locked. But the condition we were talking about was hard acceleration and racing conditions. There will be front wheel spin and therefore the rear axle could see much more than 50% torque loading.

I'm not sure if you have any practical experience with the Speed6 in those conditions, but yes, there CAN be more than a true 50% carried by the rear, but it will be of such a short duration as to be essentially meaningless.