In every motorized vehicle, there are different parts that help it run properly. There of course is the engine and the fuel, then after that where does the energy go? Well into the wheels of course, this is what makes your vehicle move. There has to be something there to convert the energy that comes from the engine into energy that will turn the wheels. These are known as your differentials. Differentials are the last stop on the long road from raw fuel and spark to energy to turn your wheels.
How exactly did they get their name? Well if you need a visual imagine this; drive your vehicle through a giant water puddle. Then turn a corner with your wet tires and get out looking at the marks you have left. If you were able to straighten those marks out you would see that your driver’s side wheels traveled farther than your inside wheels. You would also notice your front wheels traveled further and at a different angle than your back tires. They are all receiving the same amount of energy but due to your differentials they are all able to travel at different speeds to get to the same location. Your differentials also divide the power between the driven wheels. Differentials received their name because they allow your wheels to travel at different speeds.
Without differentials, your vehicle would not have a final reducer of speed from the engine to wheels. Your vehicle would simply not operate the same smooth way you are used to. Wheels that are attached to a power source need some kind of guidance of where to go, how fast to go, and how to go in sync with your other engine driven tires. That’s where differentials come in to save the day.
