Operation

OPERATION

DIFFERENTIAL-OPEN






During straight-ahead driving (1), the differential pinion gears (2) do not rotate on the pinion mate shaft. This occurs because input torque applied to the gears is divided and distributed equally between the two side gears (3). As a result, the pinion gears revolve with the pinion mate shaft but do not rotate around it.





When turning corners, the outside wheel must travel a greater distance than the inside wheel to complete a turn. To accomplish this, the differential allows the axle shafts to turn at unequal speeds. In this instance, the input torque applied to the pinion gears is not divided equally. The pinion gears (1) now rotate around the pinion mate shaft in opposite directions. This allows the side gear and axle shaft attached to the outside wheel to rotate at a faster speed.


DIFFERENTIAL-TRUETRAC(R)






When the vehicle is on a surface with equal traction to both wheels, the Truetrac(R) differential will supply torque flow (1) evenly to both axle.





When the vehicle experiences a loss of traction to either axle, the Truetrac(R) differential mating pinions push off each other and wedge themselves into the differential case pockets. This provides a friction force, which is applied to the axle with the loss of traction to prevent it from spinning. The majority of torque flow (1) is then transferred to the axle with traction.