Mercedes all wheel drive explained

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Mercedes

W124 4matic - Automatic all wheel drive. Normally rear wheel drive vehicle. Power is progressively transferred via multi-plate hydraulic transfer clutch to front wheels when slipping occurs. Torque distribution in this case is 65% to 35% rear to front. ABS sensors are used to detect wheelspin. If more traction is necessary, computer locks another clutch in rear axle. If brake pedal pressed, all clutches disengage to allow the ABS to work properly. On takeoff/acceleration the front axle normally engages, pro-actively, regardless whether wheel slip is detected or not.

Figure: Mercedes-Benz 300E 4matic 1989 front differential

Figure: Mercedes-Benz 300E 4matic 1989 transfer case

Figure: Mercedes-Benz 300E 4matic 1989 transfer case parts

ML - Full-time all wheel drive with 3 open differentials. 4ETS electronic traction control, that applies brakes to wheel, that is about to spin, thus transferring torque to wheels, that have traction. M-Class 4ETS kicks in up to about 36 MPH (60 km/h) and if engagement conditions are maintained beyond 60 km/h during acceleration, control is effective to up to 48 MPH (80 km/h).
Two-speed AWD variant of the Borg-Warner 44-06 transfer case. Button-operated low-range locks to 50/50 torque split. (2,64:1 low gear).

Figure: Mercedes-Benz ML-class front differential

Figure: Mercedes-Benz ML-class rear differential

Figure: Mercedes-Benz ML-class transfer case

G-class 461 ...-1991 - Part-time all wheel drive. Manually lockable differentials in the front and rear axles.

Figure: Mercedes-Benz G-class 461 transfer case

Figure: Mercedes-Benz G-class 461 front differential

Figure: Mercedes-Benz G-class 461 rear differential

G-class 463 1991-... - Full-time all wheel drive with 3 manually lockable differentials (buttons). Differentials lock after the vehicle has moved some distance. 2.16 low gear ratio.

Figure: MB G type 463 transfer case

Figure: Mercedes-Benz G-class 463 transfer case

Figure: Mercedes-Benz G-class 463 front differential locking actuatur

W210 E-class - Full-time all wheel drive with 3 open differentials. Torque distribution 35% front / 65% rear via planetary gear. Electronic traction control applies brakes to the wheels that are about to spin and distributes torque from wheels that slip to the wheels with traction.

GL -

Figure: Mercedes-Benz GL-class front differential

Figure: Mercedes-Benz GL-class rear differential

Figure: Mercedes-Benz GL-class transfer case

S-class -

Figure: Mercedes-Benz S-class 430 4matic transfer case

Last updated: 2010-05-21 22:52

There are 3 comments

George

August 17, 2010 - 01:50

Subject:

That W124 transfer case is one of the most sophisticated, probably ever.
You can have rear wheel drive [0/100, via a locked up center differential and open transfer clutch]
Four wheel drive [35/65, via an open center differential lockup clutch, and closed transfer clutch]
Rigid/fixed four wheel drive [both clutches closed, for getting yourself 'unstuck']

(if the electronics and rear transfer clutch were modernized, you could also have a variable distribution to the front)

felix

March 22, 2010 - 04:58

Subject:

If possible, please show some detail about the AWD system of S-E-C class that base on front wheel drive.
Thanks

Reply to felix

awd.ee

June 10, 2010 - 00:55

Subject:

Never heard of a four wheel drive SEC-class.