| Differentials - Theory |
| Sunday, 08 April 2007 | |
The use of differentialsThis is an abstract of the "How Differentials Work"-pages on HowStuffWorks.com
The differential has three jobs:
 Car wheels spin at different speeds, especially when turning. Each wheel travels a different distance through the turn. The inside wheels travel a shorter distance than the outside wheels. Thus the inside wheels travel at a lower speed. And the front wheels travel a different distance than the rear wheels. The differential is a device that splits the engine torque two ways, allowing each output to spin at a different speed. Part-time four-wheel-drive systems (as used on the '98-'05 GV's) don't have a differential between the front and rear wheels; instead, they are locked together so that the front and rear wheels have to turn at the same average speed. This is why these vehicles are hard to turn on concrete when the four-wheel-drive system is engaged. The differentials used on our Grand Vitara's ('98-'05) are so called open differentials. The image below labels the components of an open differential.  When a car is driving straight down the road, both drive wheels are spinning at the same speed. The input pinion is turning the ring gear and cage, and none of the pinions within the cage are rotating -- both side gears are effectively locked to the cage. Note that the input pinion is a smaller gear than the ring gear; this is the last gear reduction in the car. Terms like axle ratio or final drive ratio refer to the gear ratio in the differential. When a car makes a turn, the wheels must spin at different speeds. Click the image below to watch an animation that shows the behaviour of an open differential.
More information "How Differentials Work" on HowStuffWorks.com
|
|
| Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 April 2007 ) |
| Next > |
|---|