VISCOUS COUPLING

This is a differential with no gears. The input shaft from the transaxle(at the front wheels) and the output shaft to the rear wheels each carry a series of plates that are alternately intertwined and closely spaced. All the plates swim in a special fluid that transfers power from the input to the output plates when needed. lf the front-drive wheels begin to slip, their shaft and plates spin more pulckly than the others. This

Speed differentlal within the housing churns and heats the fluid, which thickens lt and more tightly bonds the alternating plates. Some torpue is now sent to the grippier wheels until spinning ones regain traction.