Question about my AWD E30

[ZodGilla]

Let me preface this question with some info: I bought a ix with a broken/disconnected front left axle which I drove home without any issue. Later, while doing some research I found a few forums where people mentioned that a bad 325ix TC will act like an open diff.

With this in mind, would it be safe to assume that my TC is in good shape?

My thinking is that since the front diff and a bad TC would both be "open", I would assume that all of the power would go to the freely spinning axle. Since this didn't happen, is the viscous coupling good?

I understand that I could do the jack test, but the car is being worked on in my garage at the moment and I removed the TC to get to a transmission leak.

[ried]

I've read this 3 times and still can't understand what you're asking.

The 325iX has two differentials, one in the front and one in the rear. The rear differential has limited slip capability, sending torque to the wheel that has traction. The front differential is not limited slip at all; both front wheels either receive torque or they don't - but it's always an equal amount.

[ZodGilla]

Sorry, I'll try to be a little more concise.

I agree with what you said. There is an open diff in the front and an LSD in the rear, but there is also a transfer case in between the front and rear differentials.

Like I said, I drove the car with 3 intact axles. Which would imply that the transfer case is doing it's job and acting like an LSD. Otherwise all of the torque would be transferred to the path of least resistance (assuming the TC acts like an open diff when the viscous coupling fails).

So in other words what I'm asking is: Could you drive a 325ix with a missing front axle and a bad TC?

[nando]

I understood the original question just fine. Yes, you are correct. If it drove fine with a front axle disconnected, that implies the vc in your tcase is good.

If the vc was completely fried it would not move at all because it would take the path of least resistance through the front open diff.

Another concern would be the wheel bearings, which are quickly destroyed without the axle stub to support them..

[ZodGilla]

Awesome, that's good to hear. Especially since I already replaced both front bearings and the missing axle.