What is Differential?

 While your car is cornering, that is, with the steering wheel turned, the car turns around a point. That is, it draws a circle with a definite center. But at this time, the path taken by the wheel remaining inside and the wheel remaining outside is not the same. The outside tire has to go fast to catch the inside tire. In this, the differential mechanism is used.

It is the mechanism that transfers the power from the engine to the wheels that rotate at different speeds. While cornering, the speed of the inner and outer wheels will not be the same. With this mechanism, friction of the slow wheel is prevented. How the Differential Works The mechanism of the differential system is often confusing to people and difficult to understand. However, it can be easily understood when explained with an example. For example; A gear called the bevel gear directly transfers the movement from the gearbox. There is a hopper attached to it. Inside this chamber, there are two gears called pigmons. There are two gears going to the wheels on the right and left side. If your steering wheel is not broken, a gear from the transmission will start turning the chainring. This in turn rotates the hopper attached to it. Pigmon gears also rotate depending on this chamber. Since both wheels will rotate at the same speed, the pigmon gear does not rotate around itself. If you are cornering, the two wheels will not turn at the same speed. In this case, a wheel spins faster. Accordingly, the pigmon gear in the environment starts to rotate around itself and provides the movement. In this way, the slower one from the wheels does not rub off. What Would Happen If There Was No Differential System? When cornering, the outside wheel turns fast and the inside wheel turns slowly. So the slower wheel inside will rub. This will cause you to not turn properly. It both pushes you out of the corner and causes you to drift away from the road. You have trouble keeping the steering wheel balanced. This system is a mechanism designed to prevent this. Disadvantages of Differential System Torque from the engine is distributed across the two tyres, while in this design more torque goes to the wheel with less grip. For example; On semi-icy roads, the differential system is insufficient. While the wheel on the asphalt clings to the road, the wheel on the ice cannot hold on to the road. This causes slippage.