|
FWD cars vs. RWD and AWD cars: Transmissions on FWD cars are generally weaker than those of RWD or AWD cars. Power is applied differently in FWD cars--FWDs pull the car's weight, while RWDs and AWDs push the car's weight. For that reason, RWD and AWD transmissions and drive trains are generally stronger. Manufactures figure the front wheels on a FWD car will brake free and spin, hence no need for tougher FWD transmissions.
Newer style transmissions vs. older style transmissions: Believe it or not, newer style transmissions are not built as sturdy as older style transmissions. Older trannys were overbuilt, made of thick steel forged or cut parts. Newer transmission parts and gears are made primarily of pressed aluminum. (The parts when apart are not much thicker than an aluminum can! You could break them easily by bending them!) Considering their build and composition, new transmissions last surprisingly long. Newer transmissions are lighter with tighter tolerances than older transmissions, however, in the long run, they would be less reliable than older style transmissions.
Torque Converters--How do they work? Torque converters sit between the engine and the transmission, doing the job of a manual's clutch. However, unlike a manual's clutch, torque converters are not friction driven. Instead, inside the torque converter, transmission fluid is squirted through two of turbine wheels. As the fluid passes through one turbine wheel to the next, the pressure of the fluid is increased, thus
moving the next turbine faster. Spin the turbines fast enough, power flows through the torque converter, "linking" the engine and the gears.
Are torque converters more reliable than manual clutch disks? Yes, again, torque converters are not friction driven. They are fluid driven. If you do have a problem with your transmission, tho, when the shop pulls the pan, they look for parts in the pan (usually metal shavings or chunks). Metal shavings are usually from the torque converter which is made of steel (the problem with my GS-T). Steel would "shave off". If it were metal chunks, most likely they are from aluminum--parts from within the transmission itself.
MORE
|
|
