its been explained to me before but i dont understand. and a car only has four wheels so logically you would think four wheel and all wheel are the same, but of course they are not.thank you in advance and please answer seriously.
Generally all wheel drive indicates that all four wheels recieve power continuously or they are automatically engage when the vehicle decides it is necessary. Four wheel drive requires some action on the part of the driver to initiate power to all the wheels. Good luck and God Bless.
All wheel drive cars and 4-wheel drive cars operate on the same principles. There are other determning factors though. Actualy most vehicles have what is called an open differential. meaning they have only one drive wheel unless equiped with a locker or posi differential. So technically most 4-wheel drive vehicles use one drive wheel in the rear and one in the front when in 4-wheel drive mode. Most vehicles do not use a posi or locker up front as it is difficult to turn because the outside wheel in the turn must rotate faster. While possible to have a locker or posi in the rear it is not likely or easy to operate with a posi in the front. While not impossible it has been done. As to all wheel drive the front may be the main drive wheels with the rear coupled via a viscous transfer. Whether 2 or 4 wheels are being driven depend on the type of differential.
let me try to explain this way, most older cars are rear wheel drive so that means the only wheels pulling are the rear tires, most newer cars are front wheel drive, which means the front tires are pulling, A four wheel drive is when you push a button in newer vehicles to lock in all four wheels so they will pull, this way if you get stuck or driving in bad weather you can use it as needed so all wheel will be pulling, what this does when you get in a situation were you need more traction the axles will switch from one side to the other to give you better traction. In all wheel drive is the same except it has a electronic switch which activates when you have slippage or loose traction it will then catch and lock - in to give you front rear pull.
