Description
YHW Powertrack 50/50 Haldex Insert
How it works - Powertrack Insert changes the tune of the hydraulic system to increase the power delivered to the Haldex clutch instantly. The result is an instant response of the rear traction with a power distribution of 50/50.
Please Note: This does not make the drive permanent 50/50, the drive is only 50/50 when the pump is fully engaged
The insert is located at the top of the haldex unit and can be difficult to see. We would recommend a torch and mirror to avoid dropping the full unit. See image #3 for the location
The Powertrack Insert will get you the fastest reaction and strongest rear traction available. This is a big improvement when running high powered cars but also helps the stock cars because the fast delivery of high pressure reduces clutch wear by limiting clutch slip and low intermediate pressure situations.
This unique design will drastically improve traction in the snow as well as loose surfaces and launch controls from a stand still. It retains the smooth enough to be used on a daily vehicle and will go un-noticeable in low speed situatuions.
All Electronic features of your car such as ESP/Traction control and ABS will work as normal
This will fit vehicles fitted with the first / second generation Haldex:
Audi TT Quattro first generation (1998-2006)
Audi A3/S3 Quattro (1999-2003)
Volkswagen MkIV Bora/Jetta/Golf 4motion / R32
Skoda Octavia Mk1
Seat Leon 1M
Volkswagen Sharan First Generation
Volvo - all models with first generation Haldex
Please ensure you check which insert your Haldex is fitted with before purchasing
For more information please see this useful technical article - HERE
Discalimer: Powertrack inserts are an aftermarket off-road component that will changes the way your car behaves. When installing the component you take full responsability and liability of any kind in case of accident, mechanical failure or consequences that could happen. We won’t be liable in any ways of car failure, parts breakage, injury or accident.
More Information
How does it works at first-
The best way to understand what the product does exactly is to first understand how the stock system works. The Haldex unit includes, a pre-charge pump, an electronic control module, a wet clutch pack and a hydraulic system including mechanical components and oil galleries.
As soon your car is started and the engine reaches 400 RPM, the pre-charge pump is activated and will build a pressure of 4 bars in the hydraulic system. The pre-charge pump is always running when the engine is running. That pre-charge action is crucial because the oil that are in the galleries drain by gravity each time you stop the car and is replaced by air. Because air is compressible and that you need pressure to operate different actions in the system, nothing will happen without a properly working pre-charge pump.
Working pressure in a Haldex unit is not created by the pre-charge pump and whatever you use your Haldex stock, electronically or mechanically upgraded or with the Powertrack Insert, the pre-charge pump do its job the same way with no difference and no more stress applied on it.
With an electronic controller, particularly in the stock configuration, the system is always in reaction to events. At first, in order to operate the clutch pack, the unit needs to have a high pressure build up. That high pressure is created mechanically by components inside the hydraulic system. When front wheels are slipping a face cam is climbing on a ramp, moving a piston and giving a high oil pressure. Because the system is already pressurised by the pre-charge pump, the high pressure is created very fast. Once that high pressure is available for the system to work, the controller can start his job.
Basically the controller has to be seeing like a guard closing a gate when he receives the information to do it. Each time the gate is closed the high pressure build up on the clutch actuator and the clutch squeezes harder according to how much the gate is closed. The problem in the stock configuration is that the informations that are sent to that guard are first: always a little bit late and second: unclear about how much the gate should be closed. Even if all the control modules and various sensors work relatively fast, it involves a small delay that is perceptible to the driver. The best example is felt on hard launch. There is a kind of “neck breaking wave” that is felt into the car. The more powerful the car is, the more you feel it into the car. That is happening because the guard never know how fast he has to close the gate and how much it should be kept open or close.
*When you swap for an aftermarket controller-
With aftermarket controller these situations are interpreted differently depending on the mapping the controller received. The gate may close faster and may be closed completely each time. Therefore, you never know how much and fast exactly this is happening. Therefore, with an aftermarket controller, you still benefit with the possibility for the gate to remains open in various situations depending again on the mapping the ECU you have.
*The Powertrack Insert difference-
The Powertrack Insert while being a completely mechanical device will allow your system electronics to work completely without sending any malfunction light. Using that device you still have that guard opening and closing the gate therefore there is a major restriction at the gate that keeps the pressure at the highest acceptable when needed. It is important to know that high operated pressure doesn’t means over pressure. The Haldex unit has built-in series of hydraulic valves to regulate and control inside hydraulic pressure. The unit while being controlled by electrical device for a smoother operation to the “grand public” should be known also as a state of the art mechanical assembly that doesn’t need any electronics to work properly. That is why with the Powertrack Insert, for those who are swapping rear axle to build AWD cars, you don’t need any current at the controller and swapped in electronics. Only the pre-charge pump needs to be wired to a 12V source and “GO”.
*Mechanical replacement controller unit.
You can find also on the market some mechanical replacement for Haldex controller. They will work for sure. Therefore while it’s been talked somewhere they make rear traction adjustable, you should be aware that intermediate pressure positions are dangerous for your system. While they happen on a stock configuration, they only occur to smooth out operations of the clutch engagement and are not continuous conditions. By maintaining an intermediate pressure condition on the clutch pack while requesting lots of rear traction like hard launch from stop or low speed corner exit followed by a full throttle repeatedly, you get the best way to prematurely wear the clutch pack and eventually make it fails. Also, that kind of system won’t support any electrical function. It may also be a choice for complete rear axle swap mechanically operated.
*Some comparisons-
Here is a table to help you compare the various traction enhancer systems in different conditions. The numbers have been not measured on bench but are given on a matter of comparison to show the impact of the pressure applied on the clutch pack in a given condition. Except when the previous state is written as stopped, we consider the Haldex unit was solicited just before the measurement to the exposed condition.