Black Pearl
07-22-2007, 10:28 AM
Yesterday I did my weekly under the hood check and suddenly got curious about the infamous rear differential that we hear so much about. So I slid under the Pearl’s keester and had a look. Kind of scary under there!
Bear in mind that I am dinosaur with a vehicular technological mindset firmly entrenched in the year of 1966. A casual glance under Pearl’s dress reinforced that notion in my mind. My recollection of a vehicle’s ventral anterior was basically some simple rear suspension components involving leaf springs, a big round thing called a “punkin” (I think the actual spelling of that is pumpkin, the rear differential), some exhaust components, a fuel line, a brake line, and a brake cable.
The Pearl’s differential was successfully identified by the fact that it had a drive shaft going into it and two axles coming out. Remove it from the car and have it sitting in a neutral location and I wouldn’t have a clue what it was—perhaps something used in aircraft or machine tools?
Lines and tubulation! Have mercy upon us! There is a confusing array of soft rubber lines (what we dinosaurs used to call vacuum tubing) of several different diameters, one of them was attached to a structural component as though sensing some internal pressure. There was wiring with connectors, and tubing going to little boxes. There was something opposite of the fuel tank that must be important, it seemed to have a reinforced box around it. The rear suspension had a bunch of claptrap mounted on it that looked like pressed steel components from a deluxe swingset from the 50’s. Frame? A 1958 Nash Rambler unibody come to mind.
As I slithered back out, I glanced over at my neighbor’s Ford F150 4X4 and saw a frame component that could be used in a bridge and for a brief moment felt the vehicular equivalent of the psychological pain of E.D. I had thoughts of a commercial from a few years back (I think it was Subaru with Crocodile Dundee--can’t really remember) where the guy’s sissy SUV gets stuck in the stream and a bored good looking young woman says something to the effect of “well it happens sometimes” and rolls her eyes.
Back in the sunlight and reeling from my personal technological and vehicular structural inadequacies, my mind quickly started to weave comforting thoughts of compensation. “Well you know, you didn’t want a boulder basher!” “Do you think you are going to get good gas mileage and lug around a bunch of steel?” “Don’t worry about all that rubber tubing its a Honda—its reliable.”
It’s true, I have absolutely no interest in off roading. In fact, I actually looked for a 2WD at the local dealers (to the amazement of my friends and the dealers—“you want to buy a 2WD SUV in Pittsburgh—what are your crazy?”) I have never owned a 4WD vehicle in my life, why would I want one now with gas prices going through the roof? Basically I wanted to sit a little high and have some of the utility space of a mini-van—both of which the CR-V filled nicely. I ended buying 4WD because I found only one 2WD in the area in a color that was totally revolting, and—well it is Pittsburgh and if I buy 4WD it won’t snow for the next 12 years—well worth the loss of gas mileage.
I have seen some threads in the forum where people are doing some off roading with pictures of their V’s in deep streams etc. Bearing in mind that my comments are limited to me and the 07 V, but no thanks, I am not going to be fording any streams or doing any off roading with the clap trap that I seen under the Pearl’s dress.
I quote from page 252 of the 07 owner’s manual:
“Your vehicle has been designed primarily for use on pavement. But its higher ground clearance allows you to occasionally travel on unpaved roads, such as campgrounds, picnic sites, and similar locations. It is not designed for trail-blazing, mountain climbing, or other challenging off road activities.”
The stiff ride is deceiving--I think there is wisdom in the above statement. The only off pavement driving that I do is an occasional poorly maintained dirt road while Geocaching, and I am going to drive those roads just as cautiously as I did in my minivan.
Bear in mind that I am dinosaur with a vehicular technological mindset firmly entrenched in the year of 1966. A casual glance under Pearl’s dress reinforced that notion in my mind. My recollection of a vehicle’s ventral anterior was basically some simple rear suspension components involving leaf springs, a big round thing called a “punkin” (I think the actual spelling of that is pumpkin, the rear differential), some exhaust components, a fuel line, a brake line, and a brake cable.
The Pearl’s differential was successfully identified by the fact that it had a drive shaft going into it and two axles coming out. Remove it from the car and have it sitting in a neutral location and I wouldn’t have a clue what it was—perhaps something used in aircraft or machine tools?
Lines and tubulation! Have mercy upon us! There is a confusing array of soft rubber lines (what we dinosaurs used to call vacuum tubing) of several different diameters, one of them was attached to a structural component as though sensing some internal pressure. There was wiring with connectors, and tubing going to little boxes. There was something opposite of the fuel tank that must be important, it seemed to have a reinforced box around it. The rear suspension had a bunch of claptrap mounted on it that looked like pressed steel components from a deluxe swingset from the 50’s. Frame? A 1958 Nash Rambler unibody come to mind.
As I slithered back out, I glanced over at my neighbor’s Ford F150 4X4 and saw a frame component that could be used in a bridge and for a brief moment felt the vehicular equivalent of the psychological pain of E.D. I had thoughts of a commercial from a few years back (I think it was Subaru with Crocodile Dundee--can’t really remember) where the guy’s sissy SUV gets stuck in the stream and a bored good looking young woman says something to the effect of “well it happens sometimes” and rolls her eyes.
Back in the sunlight and reeling from my personal technological and vehicular structural inadequacies, my mind quickly started to weave comforting thoughts of compensation. “Well you know, you didn’t want a boulder basher!” “Do you think you are going to get good gas mileage and lug around a bunch of steel?” “Don’t worry about all that rubber tubing its a Honda—its reliable.”
It’s true, I have absolutely no interest in off roading. In fact, I actually looked for a 2WD at the local dealers (to the amazement of my friends and the dealers—“you want to buy a 2WD SUV in Pittsburgh—what are your crazy?”) I have never owned a 4WD vehicle in my life, why would I want one now with gas prices going through the roof? Basically I wanted to sit a little high and have some of the utility space of a mini-van—both of which the CR-V filled nicely. I ended buying 4WD because I found only one 2WD in the area in a color that was totally revolting, and—well it is Pittsburgh and if I buy 4WD it won’t snow for the next 12 years—well worth the loss of gas mileage.
I have seen some threads in the forum where people are doing some off roading with pictures of their V’s in deep streams etc. Bearing in mind that my comments are limited to me and the 07 V, but no thanks, I am not going to be fording any streams or doing any off roading with the clap trap that I seen under the Pearl’s dress.
I quote from page 252 of the 07 owner’s manual:
“Your vehicle has been designed primarily for use on pavement. But its higher ground clearance allows you to occasionally travel on unpaved roads, such as campgrounds, picnic sites, and similar locations. It is not designed for trail-blazing, mountain climbing, or other challenging off road activities.”
The stiff ride is deceiving--I think there is wisdom in the above statement. The only off pavement driving that I do is an occasional poorly maintained dirt road while Geocaching, and I am going to drive those roads just as cautiously as I did in my minivan.