Haldex Or Torsen?

[Dudey Head]

Just wondering if anyone's had much experience of both systems and which they prefer and why? I've never had a 4WD so haven't a clue! I was asking about a V6 4Motion in the Golf/Bora sections the other day & it was suggested that torsen has a better feel with all four wheels permanently putting power down as opposed to as and when as with haldex?

[towcestervag]

in my opinion the torsen 4wd is far the better system
1/its permanent 4wd
2/better grip
3/better traction on the slippery stuff
4/very reliable

haldex 4wd
1/front wheel drive untill electrics sence it needs rear
2/real weird feeling if on ice(has trouble decieding what wheel to give drive to
3/problematic with the haldex controller
4/tyre wear as per front wheel drive

ive worked with both systems over the 29yrs with VW/AUDI and even the early 4wd non-torsen was more reliable than haldex

[audipersempre]

Spot on. My experience:

TT180 with Haldex. Odd handling and the Haldex control unit failed. £1,000!

A6 2.7T Quattro. Brilliant. Amazing handling for such a large car and really suer footed.

[Dudey Head]

Interesting. I made the point in the Golf thread that haldex loses less power through the transmission than torsen with it usually being FWD, do you reckon that advantage isn't worth the drawbacks compared to torsen?

[towcestervag]

depends on what you want?
if i was going for a 4wd car it would have to be permanent 4wd
ie torsen or may i say on this forum a subaru again

[onemanparty]

in my opinion the torsen 4wd is far the better system
1/its permanent 4wd
2/better grip
3/better traction on the slippery stuff
4/very reliable

haldex 4wd
1/front wheel drive untill electrics sence it needs rear
2/real weird feeling if on ice(has trouble decieding what wheel to give drive to
3/problematic with the haldex controller
4/tyre wear as per front wheel drive

ive worked with both systems over the 29yrs with VW/AUDI and even the early 4wd non-torsen was more reliable than haldex

Agree totally on the Torsen - I have come from A4 3.0TDI quattro and back to S3. A4 Grid is fantastic but the S3 with Haldex is a little more playful should we say

Also you may want to look at what torsen 4wd you get as the power split is different on New A4 etc 60/40 split but on older models generally 40/60 split and they do feel different when pushed hard

[kite]

I have one of each in the garage.
A4 B6 quattro.....brilliant...permanent drive and even tyre wear, although I have heard that it is recommended to change all 4 together.
TT 225....OKish drive but much better since I fitted an uprated haldex controller, you think its going to slip then the drive is transfered to the rear and away you go......

[onzarob]

Allways wanted to know the difference, good thread

[Dudey Head]

I have one of each in the garage.
A4 B6 quattro.....brilliant...permanent drive and even tyre wear, although I have heard that it is recommended to change all 4 together.
TT 225....OKish drive but much better since I fitted an uprated haldex controller, you think its going to slip then the drive is transfered to the rear and away you go......

So you prefer torsen too?

Doesn't torsen system shift power forwards & back if need be as well, but always has all four wheels on the go? Or have I got my wires crossed, which wouldn't be the first time & highly likely!!

[ini]

Torsen quattro generations 2, 3 and 4 all have 80% torque transfer to either axle.

Gen 4 torsen quattro (1998 B5 A4, A6, A8, Phaeton 4motion etc) with Torsen centre diff, open front & rear diff's both with EDL is the best old school quattro system for a road car.