Differential

The differentials is the where the engine power in most cars, makes its last stop before spinning the wheels. The differential has three jobs: To aim the engine power at the wheels, 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, and finally to transmit the power to the wheels while allowing them to rotate at different speeds.

Why do I need a differential? Car wheels spin at different speeds, especially when turning. Each wheel travels a different distance through turns, and that the inside wheels travel a shorter distance than the outside wheels. Since speed is equal to the distance traveled divided by the time it takes to go that distance, the wheels that travel a shorter distance travel at a lower speed. Also note that the front wheels travel a different distance than the rear wheels.

For the non-driven wheels on your car — the front wheels on a rear-wheel drive car, the back wheels on a front-wheel drive car — this is not an issue. There is no connection between them, so they spin independently. 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. This would make turning difficult and hard on your car: For the car to be able to turn, one tire would have to slip. With modern tires and concrete roads, a great deal of force is required to make a tire slip. That force would have to be transmitted through the axle from one wheel to another, putting a heavy strain on the axle components.

Disclaimer Information: The above listed information is based on the average vehicle on the road today is 11.7 years; experiencing sever weather climate, and extreme driving conditions and driving habits. This is the opinion of Total Car Care Guaranteed For Life, Inc and you should always refer to your vehicle owner manual. Price estimation includes parts and labor cost to replace original replacement part.