What is the main function of the differential?

WHAT IS A DIFFERENTIAL? Simply put, a differential is a system that transmits an engine’s torque to the wheels. The differential takes the power from the engine and splits it, allowing the wheels to spin at different speeds.

What does the differential do in a truck?

The differential is a set of gears that transmits engine power to the wheels, while allowing them to turn at different speeds on turns. With front-wheel-drive (FWD), the differential is alongside the transmission inside a housing, and the unit is called a transaxle.

Why does the engine need a differential?

Why You Need a Differential Car wheels spin at different speeds, especially when turning. But the driven wheels are linked together so that a single engine and transmission can turn both wheels. If your car did not have a differential, the wheels would have to be locked together, forced to spin at the same speed.

What is differential car terms?

According to Merriam-Webster, differential is defined as “a drivetrain gear assembly connecting two collinear shafts or axles (such as those of the rear wheels of an automobile) and permitting one shaft to revolve faster than the other.” In simpler words, that means differential is a device that takes the engine’s …

What are the main parts of differential?

Here is how a differential looks like inside

• 1 flange. (attaches to drive shaft)
• 2 pinion gear.
• 3 side gears.
• 4 ring gear.
• 5 left axle shaft.
• 6 right axle shaft.
• 7 pinion (spider) gears.

Does the differential affect the transmission?

When the differential doesn’t perform well, it creates metal-on-metal friction that wears down surfaces. The resulting heat weakens gears and can cause component failure and transmission problems.

What is the rear differential on a truck?

What Is a Differential on a Car or Truck? A differential, when one is talking about vehicles, is a mechanical piece of the car, truck, or SUV which allows the powered-wheels to turn at different speeds. This would be the front wheels in front-wheel-drive, the rear in rear-wheel drive, and all wheels on all-wheel drive.

Do all cars differential?

Every car is different. The differential is a component in all cars and is designed to compensate for the difference in distance the inner wheels and outer wheels travel as the car goes around a corner.

What causes differential to fail?

The leading cause of a differential failing is due to using the wrong lubricant type and specialty lubricants. Water can also be a culprit to a differential failing as it can enter through the vent or seals. Seized U-joints that result in vibration can cause differential failure as well.

What are the signs of a bad differential?

Here are the most common bad differential symptoms to look out for:

• Your vehicle is quickly going through oil.
• Difficulty steering.
• A loud front differential noise, such as the grinding of gears, clunking, or a “howling” sound.
• Rear differential noises.
• Extensive and inexplicable wear and tear on your tires.

What does a differential do when a car is cornering?

For example, when your vehicle goes around a corner, the wheel on the outside must travel faster than the wheel on the inside. The differential distributes equal amounts of torque to both wheels. This permits the wheels to react to resistance, or provide traction, to give the wheel more resistance to rotate less.

What is the purpose of the differential on a car?

To act as the final gear reduction in the vehicle, slowing the rotational speed of the transmission one final time before it hits the wheels. To transmit the power to the wheels while allowing them to rotate at different speeds (This is the one that earned the differential its name.)

What is a differential gear train?

A differential is a gear train with three shafts that has the property that the rotational speed of one shaft is the average of the speeds of the others or a fixed multiple of that average. As part of the front and/or rear axle assembly, the differential plays an important role in your car’s turns.

What is the mechanism of differential?

The mechanism of differential involves splitting power to the wheels and allowing each one to rotate independently. If one wheelset is rolling slowly; thereby, covering a shorter distance, the differential will help the other wheelset to keep rotating without skidding.

What is the most common type of rear differential?

The simplest and most common unit is the open differential, called that because the wheels can always turn independently of each other. Its main drawback is that if one wheel doesn’t have traction, such as if it hits ice, it still gets lots of power. It spins helplessly, and you go nowhere.