Differential Casting

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• Differential Casting
• An epic look into the differential casting

By Scott Loughran
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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
• To transmit the power to the wheels while
  allowing them to rotate at different speeds

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Casting

• Side gears are driven by spider" gears, which
  are little gears mounted on a shaft attached to
  the differential case.
• As it is supported by the differential case, the
  side gear can turn inside the case.
• The differential case can be turned, revolving
  around the axle gears.

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• The differential pinion shaft turns the ring
  gear, which is fastened to the differential case.
  
• The drive shaft connects the transmission output
  shaft to the differential pinion shaft.
• The turning differential case is mounted on two
  large bearing holders. These bearings are called
  carrier bearings.
• The ring gear then turns the differential case
  and pinion shaft, but the axle side gears will
  not turn.
• By passing the differential pinion shaft through
  two differential pinion gears that mesh with the
  side gears, the case will turn and the axle side
  gears will turn with it.

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References

• www.howstuffworks.com
• http//www.musclecarclub.com/library/tech/differen
  tial.shtml
• www.answers.com