How a Differential Works
1,155,271
Published 2019-12-15
The differential allows for a difference of rotation between two wheels on the same axle. This will allow a vehicle to turn corners without binding the axle or scrubbing tires.
On front wheel drive vehicles, the differential is often integrated into the transmission assembly. On rear wheel drive vehicles, power is sent through a rotating drive shaft to the rear differential assembly, before being sent out to the wheels through the CV Axle.
The differential consists of a large ring gear (or drive gear) a small pinion gear and small planet gears (spider gears) in the differential housing. When both wheels are moving at the same speed and direction (i.e. vehicle moving straight ahead) the pinion gear rotates the ring gear, which rotates the differential housing and thus each CV axle. When there's a difference in wheel speed, the spider gears start to mesh with each other, allowing one wheel to turn at a different speed than the other.
In this video, an open differential from a 2004 G35 is completely taken apart and analyzed. Other types of differentials include the locking differential and limited slip differential, which aid the disadvantages of the open differential by locking or limiting wheel slip on slippery surfaces.
Make sure you change your differential fluid! You can purchase fluid here:
amzn.to/38z55rw (US)
amzn.to/34jaakl (Canada)
Fluid pump:
amzn.to/2Egsss7 (US)
amzn.to/2sq1coq (Canada)
Full differential rebuild kit here:
amzn.to/2syuHEj (US)
amzn.to/2Pmkl3y (Canada)
This is the Camera I use:
amzn.to/2Y24ixX (US)
amzn.to/2Yhb3eo (Canada)
Link to Etsy shop where you can purchase speedkar99's brother's socks, t-shirts or hoodies:
www.etsy.com/ca/shop/Speedkar
Check out the speedkar99 Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/speedkar9/
Check out the speedkar99 Linkedin page:
www.linkedin.com/company/speedkar99/
Follow speedkar9 on Instagram for behind the scenes coverage:
www.instagram.com/speedkar9/
Subscribe for more videos just like this:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=speedkar9…
All Comments (21)
-
I like how quickly he described everything. He kept it concise and to the point. And the little humor makes it even better. Nice vid 👍🏻
-
“Special Press” love it!
-
I love the way he explaines everything and the toothbrush is hilarious. A great teacher knows how to keep an audience focused. 👍
-
This is the most accurate break down of a rear dif ive ever seen. You even covered the tooth brush and brothers underwear aspect which most people forget to mention. Excellent work!
-
Dude! This is probably the most lucid explanation. Thanks a lot. This helped me very much.
-
Very concise, yet detailed at the same time. Excellent video for learning and revision any time one's memory needs refreshing points. Differential consists of a set of gears that operate together on the drive wheel of the vehicles to ensure that the inner and outer wheels of a vehicle rotate at different speeds in the same period of time, as they should, when a vehicle is making a turn, due to the difference in the distances covered by the wheels when a vehicle is turning. The purposes of the different gears that make up the differential assembly are easy to understand and remember. Knowing and remember about the differential makes one know and remember that the the left and right wheels do not rotate on a single solid shaft, but that the differential assembly casing is what connects them, and that the right and left wheel shafts actually terminate in gears.
-
Excellent concise breakdown! Truly a mechanical marvel! The level of undeviating engineering precision is unreal! And we all take it for granted every day!
-
I know how a diff works but clicked because I am always curious to find new videos to show my kids or send to people who need to learn. This is; by far, one of the most well spoken and concise automotive videos I've ever seen. Short, to the point, clever and CLEAR. Outstanding video.
-
Master class. I love people who keep the information dense. Fantastic pace. And you clearly know the details of what you are talking about. And funny too! Love everything about this. Subscribed.
-
No wasted time with unnecessary dialog. Right to the point. Thanks!! Hypoid spiral bevel gears.
-
I have watched dozens of YouTube tutorials on how the various parts of a vehicle works. Each video I watch, someone explains a tiny thing just a little better than someone else. I thought I knew how a limited slip differential worked, but was always unsure why it was called "limited slip". Today, I learned it is the clutch pack that slips a bit allowing differential speeds between the axles, thus giving its name. And this is coming from someone who has front and rear locking differentials on a Tacoma.
-
Excellent explanation. A big thank you !
-
The first video about this I've seen that uses actual parts instead of computer graphics. Great vid!
-
Thanks for the videos, we love your knowledge !!!!
-
Thanks for this great video. It helps me in practical knowledge
-
That is very very clear. You are the best teacher. Thank you very much 👌
-
well explained thank you for the time you share with us .....
-
Best car channel ever. More car mechanical review pls
-
going thru the basics and making it sound very simple ! thank you
-
Thanks. Excelent time to watch it before bed time
