Tuesday, January 18, 2011

VISCOUS COUPLING WORKS

You won’t necessarily know when the coupling has failed. You may notice drag when driving or freewheeling at low speed with full lock on the steering. If the car is rolling, it may come to a halt. The viscous coupling fails by locking solid and that can cause the tyre to scrub. Test on an empty, level, hard surfaced car park.
Drive forward at walking pace with a tight steering lock. Press the clutch in and the car will come to a halt, which is normal. But if the car halts very quickly, then moves backwards, this suggests the VCU is sized.
Alternatively, try full lock at walking pace on loose gravel, with an onlooker watching for the rear wheel skipping as the transmission tries to unwind. But these basic tests aren’t foolproof and you may need a specialist to confirm. The viscous coupling cannot be stripped for repair, but it can be renewed.

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