Open Differentials

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Open Differentials

• Naeem Shariff

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Objective

• Give you the basic information about
  differentials, focusing on the Open differential.
• Topics
• What is a differential?
• Why do you need one?
• The Open differential

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What is a differential?

• Job of a differential
• To transmit power from the engine to the wheels
  while allowing them to spin at different speeds
• Made up of a series of gears
• Can be used in a 4WD system where it splits power
  between the front and rear axles.

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Why do we need a differential?

• Car wheels spin at different speeds, especially
  when turning.
• Each wheel travels a different distance.
• Inner wheels travel a shorter distance, and thus
  turn at a slower speed.
• Without a differential wheels would have to be
  locked together

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Why do we need a differential?

• This would make it hard to turn, and would put a
  strain on your axle
• To be able to turn, the tire would have to slip
• This requires a lot of force, which would have to
  be directed through the axle.
• Differential allows you to avoid this

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The Open Differential

• Also called a slipping differential
• The most common differential on cars
• Allows for free slippage between the two sides of
  the axle
• Prevents tires from rubbing the ground and thus
  putting strain on the drivetrain system

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Diagram of Open differential
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Advantages and Disadvantages

• Advantages
• Cheap
• Reliable
• Provide good highway performance
• Relatively simple design

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Advantages and Disadvantages

• Disadvantages
• A Open differential sends most of the power to
  the wheel with the least load or strain on it.
• This means that if one wheel loses traction due
  to ice or sand, the differential sends all the
  power to the wheel causing the car to swerve or
  get stuck on the patch.
• Another place where it can cause a problem is if
  you are off-roading.

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Conclusion

• The Open differential is the most common type
• Its job is to transfer engine power to the wheels
  while allowing them to spin at different speeds
• The Open differential allows slippage between the
  two sides of the axle
• Only one major disadvantage

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Resources

• http//auto.howstuffworks.com/differential2.htm
• http//www.car-videos.com/whatis/differential.asp
• http//www.houseofthud.com/differentials.htm
• http//www.musclecarclub.com/library/tech/differen
  tial.shtml
• http//www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/other/4_axles.
  html
• http//www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/auto_te
  chnology/1302716.html?page3cy