Differential Operation

The operating principles of the front and rear differentials are the same. Rotational input from the drive shaft is passed via the input flange to the pinion shaft and pinion gear. The angles of the pinion gear to the crown wheel drive gear moves the rotational direction through 90°.

The transferred rotational motion is now passed to the crown wheel drive gear, which in turn rotates the differential casing. The shaft, which is secured to the casing, also rotates at the same speed as the casing. The planet gears, which are mounted on the shaft, also rotate with the casing. In turn, the planet gears transfer their rotational motion to the left and right hand sun wheels, rotating the drive halfshafts.

When the vehicle is moving in a forward direction, the torque applied through the differential to each sun wheel is equal. In this condition both drive halfshafts rotate at the same speed. The planet gears do not rotate and effectively lock the sun wheels to the differential casing.

If the vehicle is turning, the outer wheel will be forced to rotate faster than the inner wheel by having a greater distance to travel. The differential senses the torque difference between the sun wheels. The planet gears rotate on their axes to allow the outer wheel to rotate faster than the inner one.