Both systems will lose momentum and both would require 3 wheels spinning to work. Since the rear diff is locked, and the front is locked to the rear, then you'd absolutely have to spin both rear tires and one front tire for there to be any difference in wheel speed for either setup to engage. Both systems take a certain amount of time to engage
The Honda i4WD system works similarly to Jeep's own brake traction control that was introduced in the Wrangler in 2007 which they call BLD (brake-lock differential).
The sensitivity of wheel speed sensors and the speed of the computer response will determine how much time it takes to apply the brake to the wheel that lost traction and transfer power to the opposite wheel with traction, but it should work just fine at any speed or amount of throttle input if it's anything like the Jeep system.
Here's some good footage of the Jeep BLD in action:
It doesn't take and excessive amount of time to engage, but that's dependent on both the wheel speed sensors and the computer as to just how aggressive it can be.
Side note: One thing that I notice about guys that have driven open-diff Jeeps for years and then hop in a newer JK with open diffs and BLD, is they tend to let off the throttle as soon as they lose traction and don't give enough time for the system to do it's job. Smooth steady throttle and the system does it's thing and you start moving again.
The visco-lok style differential seems like it would take A LOT more throttle input to get it to engage and keep it engaged, since it relies on fluid pressure and clutch engagement to transfer torque. To me it's more similar to a clutch pack type limited slip, but instead of mechanical pressure to engage the clutches, it has to wait on hydraulic pressure generated my the difference in wheel speed to build up in order to engage the clutch pack.
Edit: I just looked at the PDF posted above, and the visco-lok is indeed called a LSD by definition. So there you have it.
The Honda i4WD system works similarly to Jeep's own brake traction control that was introduced in the Wrangler in 2007 which they call BLD (brake-lock differential).
The sensitivity of wheel speed sensors and the speed of the computer response will determine how much time it takes to apply the brake to the wheel that lost traction and transfer power to the opposite wheel with traction, but it should work just fine at any speed or amount of throttle input if it's anything like the Jeep system.
Here's some good footage of the Jeep BLD in action:
It doesn't take and excessive amount of time to engage, but that's dependent on both the wheel speed sensors and the computer as to just how aggressive it can be.
Side note: One thing that I notice about guys that have driven open-diff Jeeps for years and then hop in a newer JK with open diffs and BLD, is they tend to let off the throttle as soon as they lose traction and don't give enough time for the system to do it's job. Smooth steady throttle and the system does it's thing and you start moving again.
The visco-lok style differential seems like it would take A LOT more throttle input to get it to engage and keep it engaged, since it relies on fluid pressure and clutch engagement to transfer torque. To me it's more similar to a clutch pack type limited slip, but instead of mechanical pressure to engage the clutches, it has to wait on hydraulic pressure generated my the difference in wheel speed to build up in order to engage the clutch pack.
Edit: I just looked at the PDF posted above, and the visco-lok is indeed called a LSD by definition. So there you have it.
Last edited: