Chris,
If you mean in a straight line, with tires with equal rolling radii (which
is different than just the 205/60/15 measure of the tire) then no, you won't
kill the differentials. If you are driving on dry roads at low speeds
making lots of turns and have differently worn/pressurized/sized tires then
you certainly will put lots of stress on the differentials (and the cv
joints/transmission/clutch/tires/etc).
The owner's manual will give you a run down of how they suggest using the
system (you can get a new one from Audi) (I think it's center for reduced
traction situations, and rear for getting unstuck - haha)
I lock the center diff when I'm driving on wet highways (straight line,
water pooling on road surface), or when the roads are covered with snow. I
only use the rear diff lock when I'm driving on very slippery highways
(winter snowstorms or seriously deep ponded water on the highways) or in
town on nearly impassable streets in the winter (combined with Blizzaks
makes the car nearly unstoppable -during the "big storm" of last winter I
drove around local streets with a "bow wave" of snow at the front bumper)
Note that locking the differentials will shut off your ABS, though. (Mine
doesn't work right anyway so no biggie). The quattro system in our Type 44
cars will help you go in slippery conditions, but it won't help you stop
much.
Cheers!
Steve Sears
1987 Audi 5kTQ
1980 Audi 5k
1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
(SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)

"Chris Wong" <chriswong@youcantspammedirtbag.com> wrote in message
news:hotPa.41351$C83.3253450@newsread1.prod.itd.ea rthlink.net...
> Will I kill the Quattro system if I ever drive it with the front and/or
rear
> differentials locked with the switch in the center console...?
>
> --
>
> Chris Wong
>
>
>
>

 

Thanks for the time in putting together your post. I appreciate the info
and I'll be sure to pick up a new owner's manual...

--

Chris Wong


"Steve Sears" <steve.sears@soil-mat.on.ca> wrote in message
news:ZLyPa.18883$Tx.929863@news20.bellglobal.com.. .
> Chris,
> If you mean in a straight line, with tires with equal rolling radii (which
> is different than just the 205/60/15 measure of the tire) then no, you
won't
> kill the differentials. If you are driving on dry roads at low speeds
> making lots of turns and have differently worn/pressurized/sized tires
then
> you certainly will put lots of stress on the differentials (and the cv
> joints/transmission/clutch/tires/etc).
> The owner's manual will give you a run down of how they suggest using the
> system (you can get a new one from Audi) (I think it's center for reduced
> traction situations, and rear for getting unstuck - haha)
> I lock the center diff when I'm driving on wet highways (straight line,
> water pooling on road surface), or when the roads are covered with snow.
I
> only use the rear diff lock when I'm driving on very slippery highways
> (winter snowstorms or seriously deep ponded water on the highways) or in
> town on nearly impassable streets in the winter (combined with Blizzaks
> makes the car nearly unstoppable -during the "big storm" of last winter I
> drove around local streets with a "bow wave" of snow at the front bumper)
> Note that locking the differentials will shut off your ABS, though. (Mine
> doesn't work right anyway so no biggie). The quattro system in our Type
44
> cars will help you go in slippery conditions, but it won't help you stop
> much.
> Cheers!
> Steve Sears
> 1987 Audi 5kTQ
> 1980 Audi 5k
> 1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes
> (SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)
>
> "Chris Wong" <chriswong@youcantspammedirtbag.com> wrote in message
> news:hotPa.41351$C83.3253450@newsread1.prod.itd.ea rthlink.net...
> > Will I kill the Quattro system if I ever drive it with the front and/or
> rear
> > differentials locked with the switch in the center console...?
> >
> > --
> >
> > Chris Wong
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

 

I would not recommend locking any differensials unless just for getting off
from standstill on very slippery road. Driving in normal speed with locked
center differensial will force the front and rear wheels to slipp when
cornering. This is due to the fact that the front wheels will have a longer
way to go than the rear wheels. Quite easy to see when driving on snowy
roads.

So locking center diff. can make the car more unstable than yuo would want.
regards

--
Ottar Tverberg
note, remove "-no-spam-" to reply