Options For AWD Vibe

[CMcGowan]

A few questions for you guys. I just got a new AWD Vibe and i'm loving ebery minute but wish I could get just a little more out of it. It seems alittle sluggush right after first gear especially when crusing at highway speeds. I know that the AWD is the same as the base but it loses 7 HP from the re-routed exhaust due to the AWD drivetrain. I also heard that the AWD drivetrain can't handle much more then the 123 HP. Is this true?If the AWD can handle more, what are my options. I figure a CAI would be step one. A new exhaust would be a challange since it would have to be custom due to the AWD system. Anything else that will get me a little more pep? I'm not looking to match the performance of the GT but at least something alittle better.

[Frosty]

quote:.... I also heard that the AWD drivetrain can't handle much more then the 123 HP. Is this true?Welcome!Yes we were told the AWD system is pretty much maxed out.No one here with an AWD has modified their engine to any extent that I have read, so go for it, order that supercharger! Just kidding.You could get the components from a old AWD Celica Turbo and try upgrading your AWD. I am baiting you a bit, but you may be stuck with modest upgrades.silverawd will be around shortly to comment I am sure

[kaybeejay]

If you tried a drivetrain swap with an older Celica AWD system, I am sure you would void most of your warranties.Unless you're an experienced mechanic, I wouldn't try it.

[red]

hey another awd owner !!! Welcome !!! i think the main concern about the awd has to be about the system itself, not the engine or tranny...toyota over-engineers things to death i was reading articles on awd performance on matrixvibe.com and matrixowners.com and the main issue is the abrupt loading of torque on the viscous(sp) coupling plates...too much torque too quickly = overloaded and busted awd systems...there is a rumor that toyota is working on a hipo system...there are vibes/matrices awds running around with cai's and exhaust upgrades (mufflers) and there is one guy at matrixowner.com who is going to turbo his! i'm looking for a ram-air hood or system, similar to the one on the sema vibe, to help my hp loss , maybe invest in some custom exhaust modifications to get rid of all those kinks they put in the pipes...not much you can do to these new engines w/o violating some emission law or warranty rule somewhere

[michiganwhitetail]

Hi Red and all other AWD'ers. I'm new to the forum and have a Salsa AWD with just over 3000 miles on it now.I recently landed a job with a company that supplies constant velocity halfshafts and driveshafts to the automotive industry. Having just graduated from engineering school, and new to this job I will post some observations with the caveat that I do not claim to be an expert.I put my Vibe up on the lift downstairs in the testing lab and observed the layout of the drivetrain. Our Vibes have tripod joint axles on the front, and double offset joint axles on the rear. They are 19.9mm shaft diameters on the rear and 22mm on the front which are pretty beefy considering that the max torque to the rear driveshaft is about 150Nm under engine load. Probably a little more on the front under normal driving and hence the larger dia.Red is absolutely right. If you had an imaginary parking lot with alternating bands of ice and dry pavement then you would experience wind up and lash in the system as the tires slip/grip/slip etc. One of the more severe test auto makers subject their vehicles to is the rock cycle test where the driver does forward and reverse "slams" on dry pavement at wide open throttle. Obviously we would be nuts if we did that to our AWD's but GM standards dictate that our vehicles must withstand 20 repetitions of this test.That's the main reason we're told not to put the supercharger on our AWD's because they were never validated for the resulting 160hp and the correspondingly higher torque.I think that I am going to be disobedient and put the supercharger on mine anyway. True, the viscous clutch pack will suffer from an early failure down the road but Toyota probably engineered some of their famous durability into that clutch. And I WILL take it easy when the road is alternately slippery/dry. Probably the next area that could suffer would be the pinion nose that was "transplanted" onto our tranny housing. Higher torque means higher bending forces in the pinion gear bearing and possibly the opportunity for cracking type of failures in that area. But again, we are talking about boosting the touque 35% and I bet Toyota engineered a much larger safety margin in that area. Those strengthening/cooling ribs are interesting to see.One final comment is that the higher torque might introduce a noticable vibration into the system. The tripod joints on the front are not truly constant velocity (but very close) so sometimes they can shudder. Also there is a vibration damper on the pinion nose of the tranny case that tells me there is a potential to change the frequency with the higher torque.Overall, I'm really happy with my AWD. I'd like to get that puppy moving better in the 0-40 MPH range tho! IMHO opinion the axles and drive shafts can take that power with no problem. Concern is cracking the casting around the pinion nose.Good luck with yer AWD and If anyone puts the supercharger on (before I do) then please post results here. (You can always change it back to stock if you bust yer tranny case open!) Ya?

[pmh013]

Awesome post! Good to have more AWD owners here, and more engineers too (ERTW).I'm not one of those types who NEEDS more power, but can appreciate those who WANT more. But, the more time I spend hanging out here, the more I have a feeling I could be wanting more power (and a louder horn, and ...)So, I'll be waiting to see who shreds their tranny first j/k hope that doesn't happen to anyone!