System and method for using all wheel drive coupling to enhance electronic parking brake function on a motor vehicle

A system for applying a counter torque to at least one axle of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle includes an electronic parking brake (EPB) subsystem, to enhance a braking action of the vehicle while the EPB subsystem is engaged, the system comprising:

• an all wheel drive (AWD) system including a controller and software, the AWD system configured to:
• communicate over a communications bus of the vehicle with the EPB subsystem;
• to receive information over the communications bus indicating when the EPB subsystem has been engaged;
• to apply a counter torque to the at least one axle of the vehicle to augment a braking action being applied by the EPB subsystem;
• and
• to release the counter torque after receiving additional information over the communications bus informing the AWD system that the EPB subsystem has been disengaged.

A method for applying a counter torque to at least one axle of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle includes an electronic parking brake (EPB) subsystem, to enhance a braking action of the vehicle while the EPB subsystem is engaged, the method comprising:

• using an all wheel drive (AWD) system to:
• process electronic information received by the AWD system that informs the AWD system that the EPB subsystem has been engaged;
• apply a counter torque to the at least one axle of the vehicle;
• and
• to release the counter torque after receiving electronic information informing the AWD system that the EPB subsystem has been disengaged.