Differential lock how does it work

Eaton ELockers use a simple pushbutton and electromagnetic assembly to actuate the engagement collar, which locks the axles. Others use air known as air lockers and utilize a vacuum diaphragm to actuate the clutch, which locks the axles. These have some added installation complexity and cost due to the required air compressor and airline plumbing.

These types of lockers are primarily used in racing situations. However, they are not as strong as a traditional locker because they rely on the OEM carrier and reliability could become an issue if power adders, larger wheels and tires, and other modifications are made to the vehicle.

Differentials and traction control. Locking Differentials. A locking differential provides maximum traction to both wheels even when one is off the ground. What is a locking differential? In other words, the wheel that is easiest for the engine to rotate. This is a logical method on solid, even surfaces. But when it comes to driving off road, it can cause a few issues. If you are driving through a particularly uneven or slippery track it is common for at least one wheel to slip or be raised in the air.

As the wheel spins wildly in the air or on the slippery surface, the diff recognizes this as much easier to rotate, than the one gripping solidly to the ground. Therefore, the wheel with traction that would potentially drive us out, is left without power, while its opposite wheel uselessly spins.

This is where the mighty diff lock comes into play! This allows not only the wheel without traction to continue to spin in the hope of gaining traction, but more importantly, begins to drive the well-grounded wheel. Remember the original function of a diff on road, for turning corners? Well this applies off-road as well. Although the diff-lock is great for when we lose traction, it can often fight against us when we need to corner for our next obstacle.

The same can be said about the front and rear differentials. Usually, they are open differentials and you need to manually close the rear or front diffs by flipping a switch and engaging an electronic differentials locker to close it. This closes the rear or front axles and makes them operate as one unit and not independently as before. An LSD can never compete or make a vehicle as capable as one with a rear diff locker.

LSD works by limiting the independence between right and left axles. The most common Limited Slip Diff technology is clutch-pack-based or pre-load spring-based. It consists of a series of friction and steel plates packed between the side gear and the casing. This technology works by allowing the wheels to function normally on the tarmac and high traction surfaces without having to engage or disengage anything. The wheels are allowed to turn at different speeds like when taking corners but will lock up when driving in a straight line and the clutch pack or metal plates detects it is in a high-torque situation.

The torque coming from the driveshaft then forces the diff closed. It sounds good in theory, however, it is not as effective as a differentials locker or even a modern TC system.

It is, however, better than just an open differential. Traction Control TC functions similarly to a differential locker accept it activates automatically once the vehicle senses the loss of traction. Most vehicles allow you to switch this function off as it can hinder the forward progression quite a bit, especially in sand.

TC works by detecting loss of traction on the wheels via sensors and then automatically applies the brakes only to the wheels that have lost traction thereby sending more power and torque to the wheel with the most traction. It functions similar to a manual mechanical differentials locker but not quite the same as there is still a small amount of traction lost first and wheel spinning necessary before the TC is automatically activated. Your locking differentials are there to prevent you from getting stuck in the first place by overcoming the off-road limitation of an open differential in challenging driving conditions or cross-axle terrain.

This is accomplished by locking the differential to distribute power and torque evenly to both sides of the diff. Use your differential lockers wisely to protect your vehicle, the off-road track as well as the environment. Here we strive to provide the most accurate, up-to-date, information about the functionality, common faults and latest technology built into most 4 Wheel Drives.

Skip to content A Locking differential is an amazing piece of engineering if used correctly. What is the difference between a rear locker and an LSD Limited Slip Diff To find the answer to these questions and more read on… Differential lockers are used to overcome a limitation of an open differential in off-road conditions by locking the center, front or rear differential to distribute power and torque evenly to both sides of the diff.

If you would like to know more about how a locking differential works and when it is appropriate to use, continue reading… Table of Contents.