Limited Slip Differential

Limited Slip Differential Description and Operation

Limited Slip Differential

The locking differential consists of the following components:

* Differential case

* Pinion gear shaft

* Differential pinion gear shaft lock pin

* Limited Slip Differential Clutch Disc Splined (Friction material on disc and splines on the inside of disc)

* Limited Slip Differential Clutch Disc Eared (Disc without friction material and ears to the outside of the disc)

* Differential side gears

* Differential clutch disc thrust washer

* Differential pinion gears

* Differential pinion gear thrust washers

In a conventional differential, if one wheel spins, the opposite wheel will generate only as much torque as the wheel with the least amount of traction. In a limited slip differential, part of the ring gear torque is transmitted through clutch packs which contain multiple discs. In operation, two forces engage the limited slip differential's clutches. The first is the pre-load force within the clutch packs. The second is the separating forces generated by the side gears as torque is applied through the ring gear. The limited slip design provides the action needed for turning corners and for driving in a straight line when traction is uneven. When one wheel loses traction, the clutch packs transfer additional torque to the wheel having the most traction. Limited slip differential resist wheel spin on bumpy roads and provides greater pulling power when one wheel loses traction. If both wheels slip due to unequal traction, limited slip operation is normal. Also in extreme case of unequal traction, the wheel with the least amount of traction may spin.

Differential Cooler (250 mm Axle)

The 250 mm axle differential cooler is designed to reduce the temperature of the rear differential fluid. This is achieved by the transmission pumping transmission fluid through the differential cooler located in the rear of the differential housing.

The transmission oil cooling system includes an integrated rear differential cooler. There are two transmission oil coolers in series in the ZL1 transmission oil cooler system. The initial transmission oil cooler is a heat exchanger located in the lower end tank of the radiator. The transmission oil temperature is partially regulated by the temperature of the coolant leaving the radiator and passing over the hear exchanger.

Pipes and hoses from the transmission bring oil pumped at a high pressure through the rear differential cooler and back to the radiator end tank cooler. The oil out of the radiator end tank cooler is plumbed into an air-to-oil cooler in front of the air conditioning condenser and radiator. This cooler helps provide additional cooling for performance driving conditions for the ZL1 transmission and rear differential. The transmission oil is then directed back to the transmission.