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A new wheel end concept was designed and developed to allow sport utility vehicles (SUV) and light trucks the possibility of achieving a negative scrub radius. This paper will compare a production vehicle with a scrub radius of 54.8 mm with the same vehicle modified with several alternate scrub radii. The vehicle changes are completed in a way that still packages the brake components and meets the component durability needs of a light truck wheel end load cycle. Quantitative vehicle computer analysis and actual instrumented vehicle performance data will be compared and correlated to analyze the effects of scrub radius.

Vehicle drawbar testing was conducted in order to establish the relative performance of all wheel drive electric and viscous clutch transfer case systems. The drawbar tests of a Ford Aerostar system with an electric clutch transfer case are compared to viscous clutch systems in a GM Astro and a Chrysler Grand Cherokee. The empirical test results and theoretical comparison show that the electric clutch transfer case system has a greater amount of torque transfer and its reaction time is faster.