AWD not working but still getting torque bind ??

[firstwagon]

I have a 91 Legacy LS wagon AWD AT. Over the past year it's had less and less power going to the rear wheels. (more torque steer, more wheel spin in the rain). Last winter in the snow I could not tell any difference with the fuse in or out. I guessed the clutch pack was gone but as I was saving for a new car, I decided to just put up with the 2wd rather then invest the money in repairing it.

 

The strange thing is now I'm starting to get random periods of torque bind. Putting the fuse does not make it go away but somethimes restarting the car does (I get 16 flashes of the power light when I do that). Sometimes it just goes away on it's own (hasn't done it in a couple weeks now).

 

How can I have torque bind if I have no power going to the rear wheels and why does it only do it sometimes?

 

any ideas?

 

Thanks.

[Log1call]

It's not usual but perhaps the clutch plates have broken in half and jammed up into a bunch which is causing the clutch pack to lock-up?

[CNY_Dave]

It could be that the clutch pack housing has become grooved, and the plates sometimes get stuck in the 'compressed' position.

 

This could also (maybe) be why AWD has stopped working- plates get stuck in the uncompressed position, then stuck in the compressed position.

 

Dave

[firstwagon]

Someone I know also suggested the clutch plates might be sticking and suggested adding a LSD additive to the transmision.

 

Has anyone tried that?

 

I know the cheap fix rarely works but I'm out of work now and really trying not to spend any money until I find a new job.

[ericem]

Did you already try replacing your transmission fluid?

[ShawnW]

Driveshaft locking up in the carrier bearing?