Description
This conversion kit is dedicated to all those who had the old Panda and miss its traction system!!!
In fact, the current Panda 4x4 has improved considerably in terms of comfort and habitability, but it certainly has a less effective traction system than its predecessor.
It is precisely by listening to the opinions of hunters, foresters and simple enthusiasts that the technicians at Studio Prometeo designed this joint.
Operation is very simple: a lever located in the passenger compartment (behind the parking brake) allows you to choose between two types of traction:
or 4x4, that is, the front axle and rear axle are rigidly connected, as in the old Panda and as in many specialist off-road vehicles.
or 4x2, traction only on the front axle: useful for reducing fuel consumption on surfaces with good grip
The kit consists of the joint and the lever: the joint is installed in place of the standard viscous one and the lever is fixed in the passenger compartment.
The lever will then be covered by the standard tunnel, which requires a simple modification by removing the rear cup holder housing. A small 10mm diameter hole will be drilled in the car's bodywork to route the control cables between the passenger compartment and the joint.
No other modifications are necessary, as the entire system uses existing holes and brackets on the car. This kit is therefore completely reversible.
The gearshift lever integrates perfectly into the tunnel between the front seats
The PROMETEO joint was designed for off-road use of the Panda 4x4
The joint is meticulously crafted; all external components are made of stainless steel, and the casing is made of aluminum. The drive shaft coupling flange is phosphate-treated.
These measures eliminate rust problems, typical of vehicles that travel on difficult terrain. The bearings used are top-quality brands (SKF), not Chinese-made ones.
The joint is made of corrosion-resistant materials and suitable for the most demanding off-road applications
Intervention under the car for the assembly of the control cables is reduced to a minimum
As mentioned, installation does not require any irreversible modifications to the vehicle. Although it is a simple operation, it was decided to entrust the installation of the joint only to professionals. Therefore, this product can only be purchased and installed by mechanics.
Like all Prometeo Meccanica technical products, the joint is made in Italy and comes with a 2-year warranty. However, please note that improper use of the vehicle off-road or improper use of the joint on surfaces with excellent grip can cause wear to the transmission components.
We guarantee our product, you guarantee that you will use the car and not abuse it beyond reasonable limits!!!
The Prometeo Joint can only be legally used off-road!
The Prometeo joint can only be installed on Panda 4x4s equipped with the viscous coupling as standard, i.e. those built up to June 2008!
Advantages and disadvantages of the mechanical joint
Pros:
- Greater traction of the car
- Guarantee of always having 4 wheels in contact even when going downhill
- In 4x2 mode, friction is reduced and therefore fuel consumption is reduced.
Defects:
- Since the gearshift control is not synchronized, the lever may become stuck when engaging the gear while the vehicle is stationary. Therefore, it is advisable to engage the gearshift with the vehicle moving slightly.
- 4x4 traction is recommended for use only on low-grip surfaces.
- Noise: The Prometeo joint more clearly highlights a noise problem arising from the Panda 4x4's drive shaft; it is not a defect in our joint, but a transmission problem inherent in the Panda 4x4.
The problem arises from the play in the gear coupling inside the gearbox. When the engine is pushed to its maximum performance starting from low revs (1200-1500 rpm), it begins to vibrate; these vibrations end up in the gearbox and then move to the shaft.
In technical jargon, this phenomenon is called "rattle." With a viscous coupling, this vibration is partially absorbed by the coupling itself, while with our 4x2 coupling, the shaft remains free to resonate.
This vibration isn't actually harmful, but it can be annoying. It's important to note, however, that it only occurs at low revs when the engine is under stress.
It is generally more likely to occur in diesel engines than in petrol engines and is particularly present if the vehicle already has a fairly high level of wear.
