LIMITEDSLIP DIFFERENTIALS Thomas Snowdon Differential is located between

LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIALS Thomas Snowdon

• Differential is located between the drive wheels • Differential allows the drive shaft to turn the drive wheels

• Differential allows car to turn • Inside wheels travel less distance • Inside wheels rotate slower than outside wheels

• Open/standard differentials can create the problem of driving only the wheel that has less traction • This problem occurs on low traction surfaces such as ice or gravel • It can also occur when large amounts of power/torque are used such as when accelerating • Limited-slip differentials solve this problem

• Clutch type limited-slip differential • Clutch pack is between the cage and the side gears • When one wheel spins faster the side gears activate the clutch pack

• Another type is know as the viscous limited-slip differential • Viscous differentials use a special liquid which replaces the clutch pack • Disadvantages of limited-slip differentials are: higher cost, clutch plates must be replaced, lower fuel economy, and special lubrication is needed

Summary • Limited-slip differentials solve the problem of driving one wheel only in low traction conditions • Clutch limited-slip differentials activate a clutch pack to turn both wheels • The clutch pack locks the side gears to the differential cage when activated • Limited-slip differentials are not used all the time because they are expensive

Works Cited • • • www. mathworks. com http: //members. rennlist. org www. truckworld. com www. gordon-glasgow. org www. oldsmobility com http: //auto. howstuffworks. com