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Off-Road Driving Tips: What Are Differentials?

DIFFERENTIALS

Without a differential, driving would be extremely difficult.The role of differentials is to allow the wheels on the same axle to rotate at different speeds. This is particularly important in turns, as the outer wheels need to rotate faster than the inner wheels, since they have a greater distance to cover in the same amount of time. Without a differential, the inner wheel would lose traction and could cause the vehicle to skid. The tyres and drivetrain would be under high stress, not to mention the loss of control in corners.

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    TWO-WHEEL DRIVE
    On surfaces with high traction (such as highways), power is sent to the two axles through the transmission and transfer case

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    FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE WITH OPEN DIFFERENTIALS
    The front and rear differentials distribute power equally to all four wheels when an engageable 4WD vehicle is in 4WD mode.

OPEN DIFFERENTIALS

What makes open differentials work well on highways is also what causes problems off-road. Open differentials tend to send torque to the wheels offering the least resistance. If one wheel is on solid ground and the other is in mud, all the torque will be sent to the wheel with least traction—something to avoid. Fortunately, manufacturers have developed solutions to address this issue.

  • ALL POWER IS SENT TO THE WHEELS WITHOUT TRACTION

    FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE WITH OPEN DIFFERENTIALS
    In an engageable 4x4 driving on low-traction surfaces, power is sent to the wheel offering the least resistance and spinning the fastest. As a result, the wheels with the most traction do not receive torque, and your vehicle may slip.

  • This wheel receives torque and moves the vehicle forward.

    FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE WITH OPEN DIFFERENTIALS
    By locking the rear differential, both rear wheels receive the same power regardless of traction. If at least one wheel has traction, you can get out of the mud.

  • Power is distributed equally to all four wheels.

    FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE WITH FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL LOCK
    An engageable 4x4 driving in 4WD mode with both axles locked will distribute power to all four wheels, regardless of the surface. This is the signal to start.

LOCKING DIFFERENTIALS

For experienced drivers, locking differentials remove uncertainty. When the lock is engaged, the same power is delivered to each wheel, regardless of traction. In low-traction situations, this system ensures that all wheels contribute to moving the vehicle forward. There are two types of locking differentials: driver-operated and automatic. Depending on the vehicle, a locking differential may be fitted only to the rear axle (with an open or limited-slip differential on the front axle). It is also possible to have locking differentials on both the front and rear axles for extreme off-road conditions. Having locks on both axles ensures that each wheel receives the same power, whether a tyre is in a rut, all four wheels are in mud, or two tyres are off the ground.