How do differentials work: old-school video

Differential

The rear axles of a rear wheel drive or all-wheel drive car have come a really long way, with the latest systems featuring advanced torque vectoring systems such as the Vector-Drive system BMW uses (they call it Dynamic Performance Control) supplied by GKN Driveline. But still, do you know how a basic differential works? Reader Zali sent in this really cool video that makes understanding how a differential works so simple! It’s about 8 minutes long and great if you like “how stuff works” kinds of content.

Watch the video after the jump.

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • Kevin Lee on Aug 13, 2009 at 12:43 am

    great stuff indeed. still back to basics

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ajidG2 on Aug 13, 2009 at 12:51 am

    wah memang pandai betul diaorang nie

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • droll on Aug 13, 2009 at 12:57 am

    man, that's the best car video i have seen in all my life!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • enkil on Aug 13, 2009 at 12:57 am

    Marvellous stuff!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Diablo on Aug 13, 2009 at 12:58 am

    Paul,

    Is the BMW DPC diff the same as Audi's Sport Differrential? Their vectoring features seem to function in the same way

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Paul Tan on Aug 13, 2009 at 1:09 am

    Correct, both are torque vectoring systems. Here's a nice video on Audi's system: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee-6Tvd0q34

    Here's a good article: http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_…

    I think Honda and Mitsubishi was one of the first with torque vectoring systems quite some time ago with the SH-AWD system on Acura cars and S-AWC on the Evo.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Diablo on Aug 13, 2009 at 1:15 am

    I really love all these old school films. :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • joe tahir on Aug 13, 2009 at 1:19 am

    how bout the FWD? Hows the load is distributed from the engine?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • bmpower on Aug 13, 2009 at 1:35 am

    this also applied into famous LSD gearbox.

    Limited Slip Differential.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • unlogic (Member) on Aug 13, 2009 at 2:03 am

    Wow, brilliant stuff!!

    Differential is one of the best inventions of the century.

    I wonder who thought and created this got Nobel prize or something.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • so correct me if i am wrong,

    if we want a FF car, we connect the axle to the front wheels,

    for a FR car, the axle is connected to the rear wheels,

    for a all wheel car 4wd, axles are connected to the front and back?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • gunblade on Aug 13, 2009 at 2:33 am

    Thanx!! I will wonder about this in my whole life if I not watch this clip.

    Tanax again PaulTan!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • xatomic on Aug 13, 2009 at 2:38 am

    cant see the video

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Kimi Räikk&ouml on Aug 13, 2009 at 3:05 am

    VERY VERY GOOD VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    after this Kimi Räikkönen must drive for BMW

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • mozaks (Member) on Aug 13, 2009 at 3:38 am

    now I can understand it clearly..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • FrozenHeart on Aug 13, 2009 at 3:56 am

    Thannnk Youuuu Teachherrr~~

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • mystvearn on Aug 13, 2009 at 4:52 am

    Nice find!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • mango on Aug 13, 2009 at 5:12 am

    this video are really good. Great job…!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Diablo on Aug 13, 2009 at 6:07 am

    For those still in the dark, All car types regardless of FR, FF, MR have a differential unit. Difference is only where it is located and packaged.

    4WD vehicles have 3 units. Front axle diff, Rear axle diff and a centre diff.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Diablo on Aug 13, 2009 at 6:08 am

    For those still in the dark, All car types regardless of FR, FF, MR have a differential unit. Difference is only where it is located and packaged. 4WD vehicles have 3 units. Front axle diff, Rear axle diff and a centre diff.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • EddyHyip on Aug 13, 2009 at 6:16 am

    Cool video, real deal of learning,

    those ppl in the past r so smart to come out with this… i wish i have such dexterity

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Wira 1.8(A) DOHC on Aug 13, 2009 at 6:20 am

    Thanks a lot..

    It is a greatest video for sharing…

    Thanks again.

    :-)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • droll on Aug 13, 2009 at 6:22 am

    LSD is almost the same as this differential. however, as the name implies, the amount of "slip" is LIMITED. with the differential shown in this video, the amount of slip is unlimited. :)

    damn, i think i'm confusing myself!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • rexis on Aug 13, 2009 at 7:04 am

    oooo… now that is how differential work. But how about FWD car?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • p1basher on Aug 13, 2009 at 7:39 am

    great video, brilliant idea for differential invention

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Diablo on Aug 13, 2009 at 8:59 am

    rexis, in FWD car the differential is packaged inside the gearbox.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • l3ryan on Aug 13, 2009 at 10:51 am

    great video, learned something new today thanks to it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • captivian on Aug 13, 2009 at 4:28 pm

    Good video…thanks…and it is from chevrolet

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • lambov12 on Aug 13, 2009 at 4:52 pm

    a very nice video … a very educational video for University students ..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • ford_ton (Member) on Aug 13, 2009 at 5:02 pm

    Yup.Differential is present on all cars on the road. Without diff you simply cannot steer the car as both driving wheels are still rotating at the same speed. Yes LSD as the name suggests limits the slip as to provide a straight line acceleration by ensuring both wheels are pulling at the same speed. LSD is not an essential for cornering purpose.

    Word of caution for those who drives a FWD and prefers on wheel balancing. Balancing one wheel by turning it at speed with the other wheel stationary places undue strain on the diff unit. You will get an accelerated gearbox wear and tear. So plase reconsider your balancing act. Find a tyre shop that keeps their off wheel .balancing machine frequently recalibrated which is almost impossible to come across in malaysia. Majority of tyreshop are profit oriented and dont want to invest in maintenance.New shop is most likely to have a factory calibrated machine.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • kinesthe on Aug 13, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    so when are those engineers of the 'low drive shaft' coming to Malaysia? =P

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • King Samurai on Aug 13, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    Great video…ol skool people make simple and easy to understand explanation.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Cool video Paul, many thanks :D

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Diablo on Aug 13, 2009 at 7:14 pm

    'Low drive shaft' is already a common feature in all RWD dfferentials throughout the world. no one builds a differential any other way. The basic design of the differential has remain relatively unchanged until today.

    The differential actually has 2 main purpose to fulfill:

    1. To split Torque from the engine to the 2 driven wheels (FWD or RWD)

    2. To allow speed differential between the 2 driven wheels through a corner.

    All other technology (LSD, BMW DPC etc) are just add on features. The function of the diff itself hasn't changed for decades. You will find it in trucks, road cars, F1 etc

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Yoezpo on Aug 13, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    Haahh… it's give an headache to figure out my self on how the axle work, without make my own experiment.

    This explained everything. i should tell everybody hahaaha

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • lanuncyber on Aug 14, 2009 at 2:17 am

    it was GREAT! super cool!

    now i know how the differential works. simple and very clear explanation. thanks Paul! credit to the guy who shared this clip.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Philip on Aug 14, 2009 at 7:27 am

    I learned how differential works from my lego set. Really amazing stuff even from lego!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Congrats!!!!! to Karamjit for given the chance do battle again and the support from PROTON to engage him. His skills and experience will not be a waste but be a winner for the team.

    Former rally partner.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Ladiesman217 on Aug 14, 2009 at 6:47 pm

    Mitsubishi develope ACD (Active Centre Differential) and AYC (Active Yaw Control) System on their Evo VII & onwards model base on the same idea.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Diablo on Aug 15, 2009 at 12:05 am

    The video is about the basic function of a differential

    Mitsu's ACD, AYC, nissan's Attesa ETS Pro etc are all torque vectoring systems which act upon the basic differential operation

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • shuqgx on Aug 16, 2009 at 7:34 am

    nice! very educational! 1st!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • joe tahir on Aug 19, 2009 at 6:38 am

    how bout the efficiency?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • pedro on Aug 25, 2009 at 5:16 am

    Fantastic!! regards from portugal!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • We will put in…..more spokes. I love that line.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • hrishi on Aug 29, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    awesome really a nice one

    how can i dwld dis vid

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required