How the VW (VAQ) Electronic Limited Slip Differential Works (MK7 PP) 

Should see if the humble mechanic will do one

I can guarantee you this thing is night and day to a standard LSD. The cornering this guy talks about is literally mind boggling.

@@MeltingRubberZ28 except the two fastest FWD vehicles around the Nurburgring, the Megane RS Trophy R and Civic Type R, both use helical differentials. . Helical diffs are reliable, proportional, non-reactive, and work amazingly well. VW's solution isn't better except in really low traction conditions when input torque is low and right off the line, but it has to react/predict any lockup needed, and if it's too aggressive can resist steering. . If the best cars don't use it, then there are good reasons for it. Especially when they're expensive performance variants with low production numbers.

@@KTMcaptain just because those cars don't use it....doesn't mean they wouldn't improve if they had it. Not following your logic.

@@KTMcaptain definitely a thought provoking discussion. Doesn't the type R use the brakes for torque vectoring anyway? I've heard of people complaining of how fast their brake pads wear out from heavy cornering. Also, it seems to me like the general consensus is that an e-diff yields better performance. On all the track models of the Camaro the e-diff is an upgrade (including the ZL1 1LE). The reliability is questionable. I can see how it could be thought of as less reliable, more parts, electronics, however it really is just a clutch type LSD that has a piston controlling how the power is broken up.

​@@MeltingRubberZ28 The logic is that those two manufacturers set out to make the best handling fwd cars on the market and succeeded. The differential is a very important aspect of the cars handling. It's not a situation where they performed in spite of the equipment. It was chosen. Ultimately, you claimed it to be a night and day difference, but there is no actual performance difference. . Clutch type differentials wear out hence the reliability complaint. Not only that, they lose performance throughout that lifespan as the fibers wear down and the steels glaze over. The Corvette does use an e-diff, but it's rear wheel drive. When the diff is locking up it restricts turn-in minimally. Front differentials have a greater wheel speed differentiation meaning any lockup would have a greater effect on turn-in. . My old 06 WRX STi had 3 differentials. Front was helical, rear was a clutch unit, and the center was a electromagnetically driven clutch with helical gears. Helical diff in the front provides great torque distribution without restricting turn-in, the rear diff has less wheel speed difference and used a static clutch, and the center diff was used helical gears to amplify the electromagnet driven clutch pack to vary torque distribution. Subaru swapped the rear differentials for a helical unit the year or two later. My current car, 19 Civic Si, has a helical unit and it's unbelievable how well it puts down power pulling 1g in slower 40mph corners where even my 13 WRX would spin the inside front. . The great thing about helical diffs is the lockup is proportional to wheel torque... wheels take torque to spin, the more torque you apply the more likely it is to spin... So the lockup effect is only there when you need it and is instantaneous. . Now, there are clutch type differentials which have a proportional lockup effect as well. 1 way, 1.5 way, and 2 way diffs use a ramping mechanism and input torque to drive the clutches. A 1 way will only drive the clutches under acceleration and not braking, a 1.5 way will drive the clutch half as hard under braking, and a 2 way will drive the clutches both ways. These aren't well suited for road cars due to fast wear and maintenance, but are great for race cars. . I don't see what torque vectoring has to do with the differential? It's used to get better turn-in. Outside of Honda's SH-AWD rear diff, no diff can vector torque intentionally to the desired wheel. Hence the use of brakes. The VAQ diff can only lock the wheels together making the wheel with the most traction the one that gets the most torque, but under that the inside wheel wants to spin slower and can't so will resist turn-in. Honda's SH-AWD rear diff doesn't use a differential. It's a fully locked axle with clutch packs to create differentiated wheel speed. It would just partially unlock the inside wheel to send more torque to the outer wheel, and it also uses a planetary gearset to increase the rear axles speed.

@Kuzuri Kam is the xds system good? I don't seem to have much traction through 1st,2nd & 3rd 😅

@Kuzuri Kam yeah they are fun to drive with a few tweaks

@@pissywilly What tweaks exactly?

@nesmio7378 I sold this car over 2 years ago and parts of this thread are missing so I'm not entirely sure what I was asked. My gli had better tires, diff adjusted through carista for better grip, I had h&r superport springs and eurodyne stage 2 flash for 93 octane. It was quite a fun car to drive

@@pissywilly You said the XDS system is good with a few tweaks, what tweaks? Just adjusting wiring logic to increased traction?

this is something we will likely look at

I agree that would be nice

Me too. Would love to know how to do it properly.

Haldex and VAQ fluid 😁

Jacob Frey you can adjust them if you have it, I've seen the setting in VCDS for normal and aggressive. Give it a try but keep an eye on the wear on your front tires, test it by doing a low speed donut and compare what you feel between the two settings. The reason you might want a more aggressive slip setting is for gravel and dirt roads, on the street it could cause premature wear problems or 'axle windup' but only testing it will prove the theory.

Jacob Frey zi 2nd this original one, problem is it doesnt say what the standard setting is so u dont know if its getting more aggressive or less, and what that means

YES! I wanted to come back to this video and ask about that as well - I can't tell whether we have any idea what setting our cars would have from the factory.

Atts was not actually reliable when driven hard they commonly fail

@@lollol-xp4mc good news! Neither are VWs.

@@BrodeyDoverosx 4 years here and no issues.

They hate each other... childhood problems.. VaQ got all the attention. 😁

Sorry I dont understand the question. Can you rephrase

Hello. Ok. The VAQ is an add on to the transmission. In my case, a DSG box. So in the video above, at 2:42 there's an image of the final drive. Looks like a drive cup on the left, standard differential in that section of the transmission and then in copper color (in this picture), the VAQ. In that final drive section before the VAQ is that a standard differential? Is it locked so the VAQ always has power? Thats what I am asking. Sorry I am not clearer. A secondary question is if we have the VAQ on our car and need to replace the transmission, is it the same as the non-VAQ cars? Mostly the same? Thank you and Thank you for a quick reply!

Never mind! I re-watched and caught that you are saying its an open diff.

will talk about on AskDAP 116

🎉😂❤

i would also like to know

I think its the front tires slipping on the thick painted white line at a stop light.

Sounds like wheel hop maybe?

It’s wheel hop, common with crappy tires (upgrade yours to pilot spot 4 all seasons or summer tire). If this is with the 2.0T engine, the engine produces peak torque super fast, which causes crappy tires to break traction in the wet extremely fast

Does yours make a little whining noise at low speeds?

mike 2345 Money lots of money Your answer is yes your other answer is but a RS car since it’s stupid to do such a thing in a less car

Wavetrac can be installed, look up the article on DriveTribe comparing the two.

Mechanical.

Yes

Hi Honey, it sounds like you need an alignment and possibly new tires.

Is lane assist on?

likely depends on service contract. You should check your details on your specific one.

not on Haldex cars at this time. Only GTI

you are wrong! Seat Cupra 300 4drive also has VAQ.

Read up first before saying something stupid. The VAQ is just a Haldex system, located at the front-axle. The Cupra 4-drive you are refering to has the Haldex to control the rear wheels, no VAQ at the front axle. The hatchback Cupra (FWD) does have the VAQ though, as it has the same drive train as the GTI.

GTI_CHHA I was talking about vaq on the front axle, lol

It doesn’t. Only the GTI models with the Performance Pack have it.

And the GTI Sport. @@TuddecBMW

Fwd b9 a4*

It's real torque vectoring.

It's not as popular to drive aggressively in reverse. Are you Australian by chance?

Just get a wavetrak or peloquin LSD

Daniel Ross what he said. This is when mechanical is better than electrical.

Will talk about on AskDAP 106

Deutsche Auto Parts thanks!

Uh no. An old school static clutch pack differential has to balance its locking effect with proper differential action. These diffs can provide perfect diff action and lock up much stronger. The elsd on the wk grand Cherokee provide traction levels equivalent to a locker. I’d rather have a torsen though.

Whatever, grandpa.

Coming on AskDAP 113