Rear-wheel drive in winter: driving features and recommendations

At the moment there are several types of drives. This is front, rear and full. Each of them has its own characteristics in the design. As for the rear, it is often called classical. This was the layout of the first gasoline cars. Until recently (and this is the 90-ies), the overwhelming number of cars were with this type of drive. However, since the zero years more and more manufacturers have begun to give preference to the front. Will the rear wheel soon disappear ? Not at all. After all, such eminent manufacturers like Mercedes, BMW, Maybach, Chrysler and others, still use this layout on their machines. Well, let's look at the design features of this system and find out how to ride the rear drive in winter.

About the device

As we said earlier, this is a classic layout. The engine, unlike the front-wheel-drive cars, is located longitudinally relative to the body of the car. Behind him goes the gearbox. Next, a propeller shaft and a rear axle are connected to it. Thus, the car has more correct weight distribution. There is no concentration of load in front, as in front-wheel drive. Weight is equally pressing on both the front and rear of the car. And if in the design of any machine there is an engine and a box, then there are not such nodes as a propeller shaft and a rear axle. Below we will consider the construction of these elements in more detail.

Cardan shaft

This mechanism is a hollow cylindrical rod. It looks like this. Its length can be different, depending on the size of the machine (namely its wheelbase). The shaft design provides for the presence of crosses. With the help of them, the element is connected to the transmission with one end and with the rear axle - the other. The shaft passes through the entire bottom. Therefore, in order not to lose ground clearance, its manufacturers "melt down" partially in the interior and the trunk. This is one of the drawbacks. After all, in addition to space for the exhaust system, another "tunnel" for the driveshaft is required. It is worth noting that not all cardans use a cross. For example, on modern "Nivas" this element is connected through hinges of equal angular velocities. The same design is also available for Japanese all-wheel drive SUVs "Toyota".

Rear axle

It is the main element in the system. The design of the bridge includes a differential. This mechanism is located in the middle of the bridge and transmits the torque to the wheels by means of semi-axles. There are two of them, one for each wheel. To ensure that the element does not fail before the deadline, oil is poured into it. Used the same fluid as for the transmission. The oil processes the gears of the differential and the semiaxis. And that the liquid does not flow out, use special rubber seals - oil seals. Specialists recommend replacing the oil in the rear axle reducer every 40,000 kilometers. By the way, in winter it needs to be warmed up properly. The viscosity of the oil changes with negative temperature. Lubricity properties are not provided as well as in summer. Therefore, the first 1-2 kilometers adhere to low speeds.

Management Features

Some will say that riding in the winter on the rear drive leads to emergency situations. This is fundamentally wrong. If this statement was true, such a layout has long been abandoned by eminent automakers (Mercedes, Infiniti, Jaguar and others). Yes, driving a car with this type of drive is significantly different from the full or the front. The machine behaves differently in all situations, especially on a slippery surface. Therefore, to prevent emergencies, you need to know the rules of how to ride in winter on the rear drive.

Do everything smoothly

The first rule is to avoid sharp maneuvers on a slippery road. And this concerns not only acceleration and deceleration. When working with the steering wheel and pedals should be extremely careful. Movements should be as smooth as in a river or basin, where water slows down any processes. This applies to steering the steering wheel and working with the pedals.

Good tires

Over time, motorists become accustomed to winter and begin to travel the way they do in the summer, making sharp acceleration and "playing checkers" in the aisle. Some will write it off on good rubber, saying "my thorns and brakes are not worse than in summer on the asphalt." Quality tires are always good, but even they will not insure you from emergencies. Whichever expensive tires you have, exclude in winter sharp maneuvers.

Minimum revolutions

Often in the early morning motorists "polish" on a flat spot, trying to move. But they can not do it at all - they write everything off to the rear wheel drive. In winter ("Mercedes" is not an exception), you can move almost under any conditions. The main thing is to keep the necessary speed. What's happening? The driver in a rush squeezes on the gas in the hope that the car will finally get a grip on the road. However, instead of the desired result, he burrows into the snow even more. To the wheel does not lose a hook with the road, you should start at minimum speed. If you have a manual transmission, you can try to start from the second. On the machine - just hold the "trigger" at the minimum level. Also, the "winter regime" will help the motorist. That is equipped with 90 percent of automatic transmissions. What is especially important to remember the owners of cars with automatic transmission: before the movement, you should warm the oil in it. To do this, alternately switch all modes with an interval of 10 seconds. After you can safely go on the road.

Other useful tips

How to drive in winter on the rear drive, if the car is stuck? In some cases, even starting from the second gear does not help. The machine is simply buried in the snow and falls on the "belly". How to be in this situation, if you use the rear drive in the winter? Reviews of motorists in one voice are inclined to use additional tools. These chains are snow chains or bracelets. Wearing them on the wheel, you in 99 percent of cases will get out of the deepest trap. But if time does not allow you to put on chains, you can try to start "in the swing." Note that this method is subject only to cars with a manual transmission, as here it is necessary to "play with the clutch". Alternately acting with the gas and clutch pedals, moving back and forth, you will successfully escape from the snow captivity.

Where it is impossible to put the car?

Driving in winter (rear-wheel drive or front, it does not matter) involves knowing a few rules. Below, we note a few places where you should not park your car:

• To put it tightly to other cars. One day you just will not move. And if it's ice, then the car's skid is not out of the question. After several attempts to get out you will be carried away. It's better if it's a curb, but not a nearby car.
• Speaking of curbs. To them, too, should not come close. A large amount of snow accumulates near them. The chances of stalling on a flat place increase at times.
• The angle of the road. Never place the car under a slope. At the start, even at a lower speed, the wheels can not get into the hook with the road. Especially if it's well rolled snow or ice. In this case, only the chains will save. The question is, how much time will you lose on the recovery of your car.

The correct methods of inhibition

Modern cars are equipped with ABS and ESP systems, however they do not always save in an emergency situation. How to slow down if you have a rear-wheel drive in winter? Councils of instructors unanimously repeat the use of the "engine braking" method. This is done very simply. Instead of once again pressing the brake pedal, we simply drop the gear to a lowered one. This technique is especially relevant on long slopes (not only in winter, but also in summer). And if to brake, then only short-term, easy pressing the pedal. And of course, stick to the distance. Sometimes even studded rubber does not provide the desired effect in an emergency situation.

Steering in a corner

Using the rear wheel drive in winter, you should be aware of such a phenomenon as skidding the rear axle of the car. Especially often this happens when the speed mode is incorrectly selected. How to pass the turns correctly, if you have a rear-wheel drive, in the winter? Before entering it, lower the speed first. You can use the same reset transmission "on a reduced". Do not press the accelerator pedal while turning. So you will provoke a skid of the car axis. By the way, reception with the pressure of the accelerator is used in professional motorsports (for sure you know such a thing as drift). But do not forget that you are not on a racing track. Any error can lead to serious consequences. All that is required of you is to release the gas and turn smoothly, excluding sudden movements of the steering wheel. Such a maneuver will give the rear-wheel drive car more stability.

How to get out of the drift?

If you have to drive a car that has a rear-wheel drive in winter, you need to know the rules of how to get out of the skid in case of an emergency. If this is the demolition of the front axle, it is recommended to apply the braking with the handbrake (parking brake) and simultaneously increase the speed. So you lock the rear wheels, this will return the car stability in the case of skidding front. At higher speeds, you should choose the trajectory in advance and turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction of the skid. If the skid of the rear axle has started, do not "throw off" the speed on the gearbox and go to the "neutral". All that is required of you is to release the gas and move on the gear.

Conclusion

So, we with you have found out, how the rear drive is arranged and how it is managed correctly. Using the front or rear drive in winter, remember the main thing - the car loves smoothness. Sharp maneuvers will certainly lead you to drift. Therefore, for a while we forget about "checkers" and sudden braking. If you have to use the rear wheel drive in the winter, do not forget to complete your car with snow chains. They will often help out in an embarrassing situation. And of course, the quality rubber will help. Studded she or "Velcro" - this is everyone's business. The main thing is to have a good protector on it, which will row the snow and take it away.