X drive enquiry

[bigwave2255]

hi just an enquiry for thoughts / info.

i understand in a more conventional vehicle the purpose of a centre diff.

(i have a Jeep Cherokee , so am comfortable with how centre diffs work, when to lock and unlock and when to use low range, and the effects of axle wind up if you get it wrong)

i also understand that X drive doesn't have a centre diff, but use,s clutches and that the clutch is motor activated, i read some where that there is drive to all wheels, so this could mean that there has to be slippage at that clutch pack where the centre diff would normally be.

so if that is the case what happens about wear, is there a life expectancy?

when i think of clutch packs i think of an auto trans, but in a trans the clutches only slip a little on engagement / disengagement so the wear is minimal, relatively speaking.

but if you have a centre clutch pack taking the place of a centre diff, i would think that these clutches are constantly slipping / engaging as the need arises, and controlled by the actuator motor / via computer inputs.

am i getting this right?? any knowledgable people want to educate me

Ewen