Illustrated Guide to the Mitsubishi 3000GT AWD System
by Jeff Lucius
These pages are still in development. I will add more pictures as I am able to disassemble components or as others send them (pictures or components) to me. If you have comments about this web page or corrections for its contents, please send an email to jlucius@stealth316.com.
Special thanks to Jim Berry, Joe Gonsowski, and Mikael Kenson for sharing their photographs and comments and especially to Frank Martin (owner of Kormex Trans Parts) who donated an opened CD/VCU for me to analyze and photograph. Kormex is one of the top manufacturers and suppliers of original and aftermarket parts for our drivetrains. Some diagrams and technical information were adapted from the various Service Manuals and from the 1991 Stealth Technical Information Manual.
Overview
All models of Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4 and Dodge Stealth R/T Twin Turbo have a full-time, all-wheel-drive (AWD) system that provides automatic distribution of engine torque to the front and rear wheels. The combined center differential/viscous coupling unit (CD/VCU) inside the manual transaxle splits engine torque evenly between the front differential (also inside the transaxle) and the transfer case. A 3-piece, 4-joint propeller shaft transmits torque from the transfer case to the rear limited-slip differential. Inside the rear differential, is another VCU that acts as the differential limiting device to distribute torque equally to both rear axles. The front differential is a pinion- and side-gear, open-type, where more torque is transmitted to the lighter-loaded (faster-spinning) driveshaft.
