Patent ID: 7264077

Claim:
A drive force control method for a four-wheel drive vehicle including a torque distributing mechanism capable of changing a drive force distribution ratio between front and rear wheels and a drive force distribution ratio between right and left front wheels or between right and left rear wheels, said drive force control method comprising the steps of: detecting a lateral G to output a lateral G signal; increasing the drive force distribution ratio of said rear wheels to said front wheels according to an increase in absolute value of said lateral G signal; and increasing the drive force distribution ratio of a turning outer wheel to a turning inner wheel, said turning outer wheel being one of said right and left front wheels or one of said right and left rear wheels, according to an increase in absolute value of said lateral G signal; detecting an unstable condition of said vehicle; and increasing the drive force distribution ratio of said front wheels to said rear wheels and decreasing the drive force distribution ratio of said turning outer wheel to said turning inner wheel when the unstable condition of said vehicle is detected.