| Differentials- What Are They? |
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In powered axles, gears that deliver power from the drive shaft to the
left and right axle half - shafts separately |
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Allow the left and right wheels to turn at different road speeds when turning, so that neither wheel has to scuff |
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| Differentials and Traction Control |
Conventional "open" differentials tend to equalize the power delivered through both wheels. Thus if one wheel loses traction - "spins out" on snow, mud, sand, or gravel - it delivers very little power to the ground. The other wheel will deliver only the same very little power. Often this is not enough to keep the vehicle moving on - it's stuck.
Traction control differentials allow the wheel with traction to deliver more power than the wheel without traction. Often this is enough to keep the vehicle moving. There are two types of traction control differentials:
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| Differentials - Locking Type (Speed-Sensitive) |
Tractech’s locking differentials are the NoSPIN and Detroit Locker® brands (same product, different market segments), the Detroit E-Z Locker™ and Detroit Gearless Locker™ brands. They keep the wheels locked together (except when turning) so that together the left and right wheels, always deliver maximum traction to the ground; neither wheel can spin out.
They allow different wheel speeds in a turn by disconnecting the faster - moving wheel (usually the outside wheel which is ground - driven faster throughout the turn), driving the vehicle with the other (inside) wheel.
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NoSPIN® / Detroit Locker® |
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The most rugged positive locking differential, and most widely available for axles from 3,000 to 70,000 lb. capacity. |
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For severe operational conditions. |
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Driver may hear and feel "backlash" going from drive-to-coast and coast-to-drive, as reversing torque flow resets the components.
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Detroit E-Z Locker™ |
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For the occasional off-roader. |
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Easily installed by the mechanically inclined. |
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Fewer parts; re-uses many conventional differential parts.
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Detroit Gearless Locker |
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Dana 30, Dana 44, and AMC 20 axles. |
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Smoother, quieter - no gear teeth. |
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Easily installed
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Differentials - Limited Slip Type (Torque - Sensitive) |
| Tractech’s limited slip differentials are the Detroit Truetrac® brand, and the Suretrac® and the Detroit LSD™ brands (same product, different market segments). They provide a controlled amount of resistance to a one-wheel spinout, so that the other wheel (with traction) receives sufficient power to keep the vehicle moving. |
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Detroit Truetrac® |
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Uses pairs of "Helical" gear sets |
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Gears only - no clutch packs.
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Ideal for 4WD front axles or rear axles, as well as 2WD; light trucks, SUV’s, cars. |
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Rugged yet smooth and quiet. |
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Torque bias ratios of 2.5 to 3.5:1 range.
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Suretrac®/Detroit LSD |
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Heavy duty clutch pack type, for severe applications where limited slip
type smoothness is preferred. |
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For larger (over 10,000 lb. capacity) axles. |
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Two types, offering torque bias ratios of 2.5 to 4.0:1 or 1.5 to 3.0:1
ranges.
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