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An Initiative by Team Trailblazers

Differential

What is differential
Differential is a device that splits the engine

torque two ways, allowing each output to spin at a

different speed
To transmit the power to the wheels while
allowing them to rotate at different speeds

How it works
When going straight

ahead:

The differential housing and

its components rotate as a

single unit
Each side gear rotates at
the same speed
Power is transferred equally
to both wheels

How it works
When turning a corner:
Differential pinion gears

walk around slower side

gear and cause other side
gear to turn faster
An equal percentage of
speed is removed from one
axle and given to the other
The amount of torque
applied to each wheel
remains equal

Parts
Pinion Drive Gear: transfers power from

the driveshaft to the ring gear.

Ring Gear: transfers power to the Differential case assembly.
Side/spider gears: help both wheels to turn independently
when turning.
Axle housing: metal body that encloses and supports parts
of the rear axle assembly.
Rear drive axles: steel shafts that transfer torque from the
differential assembly to the drive wheels.

Why You Need a

Differential
Car wheels spin at different speeds
For the non-driven wheels -- spin

independently
If no have a differential, the wheels be locked
and forced to spin at the same speed, one tire
would have to slip when turning

Front wheel drive vehicles need a differential at

front which are drive wheels

Rear wheel drive vehicles need a differential at

rear which are drive wheels

These all-wheel-drive vehicles need a differential

between each set of drive wheels

Types of diffrential

Problems with open differential

Same torque to each wheel
Low-traction situations
Solutions
Clutch-type limited slip differential
Viscous coupling
Locking differential
Torque-sensing (Torsen) differential