Volvo XC60 D4 AWD - Rear wheel Torque

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Fri 6 Apr 2018 16:29
Volvo XC60 D4 AWD - Rear wheel Torque - window

I had a front wheel slipping problem some time ago when trying to park my caravan on slippy ground. Volvo are a little slow in giving information out. 3 months have gone by with me asking the same question in different ways.

Can anybody help?
In normal operation modes the maximum torque that will be transmitted to the rear wheels is 5%.
In "off road mode" has anybody any idea what the maximum torque that can be transmitted to the rear wheels? I was sold the vehicle as a 4 wheel drive when pulling my caravan for difficult grass field conditions. I am begining to wonder if I have made the right decision?

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Fri 6 Apr 2018 18:27
Volvo XC60 D4 AWD - Rear wheel Torque - skidpan

In "off road mode" has anybody any idea what the maximum torque that can be transmitted to the rear wheels?

Think its about 50:50.

But like most fashion 4x4's the V60 does not have locking diffs thus will always struggle in slippery conditions especially grass.

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Fri 6 Apr 2018 18:42
Volvo XC60 D4 AWD - Rear wheel Torque - RobJP

I was sold the vehicle as a 4 wheel drive when pulling my caravan for difficult grass field conditions. I am begining to wonder if I have made the right decision?

Put a Range Rover with 'tarmac' tyre on wet/muddy ground and it'll get stuck.

Put proper off-road tyres on it, and it'll take a lot of work to get it stuck.

I suspect that's where your problem lies. Road tyres for fuel economy and quietness simply not up to the job of dealing with wet slippy conditions.

If you put BFGs or similar on, you'r have a lot more road noise, 10-20% worse fuel economy, but you'd be able to manage most off-road situations with ease.

You have to choose one or the other, however ...

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Fri 6 Apr 2018 19:09
Volvo XC60 D4 AWD - Rear wheel Torque - gordonbennet

Is it really 5% max drive to the rear wheels in on road conditions? All i can say is what's the point.

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Fri 6 Apr 2018 19:18
Volvo XC60 D4 AWD - Rear wheel Torque - daveyjp
Honda proved if you put in a basic system you will always find conditions where you won't get AWD.

Hondas issue was in very slippery conditions the front wheels had so little traction the system wouldn't engage the rear wheels to prevent damage.

Volvo system doesn't look much different.

I do agree about tyres. If you know you will be on slippery surfaces get some all season tyres fitted.

I have seen modern Range Rovers get stuck on muddy rugby fields due to being shod in summer tyres with a few mm left.
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Fri 6 Apr 2018 19:59
Volvo XC60 D4 AWD - Rear wheel Torque - Manatee

I don't know whether they still use the same AWD system, but I recall several years ago being told that the Volvo AWD system on the XC70 was fragile and there was a real possibility of buying a used one on which it didn't work.

As for the CRV - it proves nothing, but I have moved a caravan uphill on snow-covered grass with one - that didn't have mechanical axle diff locks either, but don't forget that most of these cars are clever enough to mimic a LSD with ESP/traction control.

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Sat 7 Apr 2018 09:37
Volvo XC60 D4 AWD - Rear wheel Torque - Metropolis.

You haven't been to a Land Rover Experience day then!

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Sat 7 Apr 2018 12:52
Volvo XC60 D4 AWD - Rear wheel Torque - SteveLee

Like the XC60, later CR-Vs have extrememely limited torque output to the rear wheels - pointless really.

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Sat 7 Apr 2018 21:35
Volvo XC60 D4 AWD - Rear wheel Torque - window

The posts/comments are very interesting.

When I had a CR-V I believe I was told the torque that could be transmitted to the rear wheels. It was in the region of 30%. The dealership explained that the torque was limited to a value which was in line with the "strength" of the rear drive train.

Volvo are not answering the direct questions of rear whell torque. This may be that the maximum is so low it might embarrasse them?

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