5 Benefits of Limited Slip Differentials (How They Work and Disadvantages)
Vehicles are equipped with three types of differentials: open differentials, limited slip differentials, and limited slip differentials (LSDs). The function of a differential is to transfer engine power to the wheels. This allows the wheels to spin at different speeds.
An open differential continues to drive the wheels that are losing traction, while a limited slip differential (also called a limited slip differential) provides additional torque to the wheels that have traction and reduces torque on the wheels that are spinning.
This can have advantages and disadvantages depending on the terrain on which you drive your vehicle.
Advantages of Limited Slip Differentials
1) Off-Road Traction
Compared to an open differential, a limited slip differential provides better traction off-road. This is because a limited slip differential transfers power to the wheels that have traction.
2) Paved Surfaces
Limited slip differentials are great off-road, but even better on paved surfaces. Traction is nearly perfect, so performance is excellent.
That’s why many of today’s high-performance cars, such as the BMW M3, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, and Subaru WRX, are equipped with limited slip differentials.
3) Reduced Tire Wear
Limited slip differentials prevent excessive tire wear by taking power away from the wheel that is losing traction and giving more power to the other wheel that is also losing traction. Otherwise, the tires would just spin in place and wear out faster because they have limited traction.
4) Reduced Axle Shaft Wear
Because axle shafts can spin at different speeds, they are not under undue stress or strain when cornering. This means they wear out less.
5) Not too expensive
If a limited slip differential is available, it is not a very expensive upgrade for your vehicle. Most people who switch to a limited slip differential spend $600 to $1,200, which isn’t that much when you think about it.
Disadvantages of Limited Slip Differentials
1) Lack of Full Power Transfer to the Wheels (rear axle)
If one wheel has traction, a limited slip differential can’t transfer all of the power to that wheel.
Even if you take a lot of power away from a wheel, you always have to transfer a small amount of power to the wheel without traction. So you can’t transfer 100% of the power to just one wheel.
2) Difficult to control traction
You can’t always predict how traction will affect uneven terrain with rocks, mud, and sand. Limited-slip differentials transfer some power to a wheel when it loses traction, but they do not provide power continuously.
As soon as the other wheels lose traction, the differential transfers more power to the other wheels. As a result, the vehicle may only pull to one side.
3) Not everyone is the same
Limited-slip differentials are not the same on all vehicles. In addition to fixed-value limited-slip differentials, there are also torque-dependent, speed-dependent, and electronically controlled limited-slip differentials. Some can control different factors differently.
So don’t get used to one type of limited slip differential and think it’ll be the same on another car with a limited slip differential. It’s not.
How a limited slip differential works
A differential is designed to allow a set of wheels to turn at different speeds. Most vehicles have differentials on either the front or rear wheels, depending on whether the vehicle is front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive. However, four-wheel drive vehicles have two separate differentials, one on the front axle and one on the rear axle. The primary purpose of a differential is to help a vehicle corner smoothly. However, there are different types of differentials that work in their own way.
The two most common differentials are the open differential and the limited slip differential. The former is good for turning on clear roads, while the latter is better for road conditions where the wheels might spin.
A limited slip differential distributes engine torque evenly to each wheel on its axle. Ideally, you’d be better off driving on the open road with this differential in place. However, if you drive over mud or ice on the road, one of the wheels may spin and lose traction.
To prevent this wheel from skidding on the road, a limited-slip differential removes some of the torque energy from the spinning wheel.
This makes it much easier to make tight turns while reducing slippage. If you have a more common open differential, it doesn’t reduce slippage when making tight turns. So, if you live in an area where snow, rain, slush, ice, and other unpleasant road conditions are common, having a limited slip differential is a big advantage.
A limited slip differential contains various clutch plates that are held in place by springs. As the wheels turn, tension between the various clutch plates increases. This increases the resistance between the two wheels on the axle, limiting the slip differential.
This type of differential requires more maintenance than an open differential. To ensure proper functioning of the clutch plates, differential fluid should be changed regularly.
An auto mechanic can perform all necessary maintenance and repairs. However, it is important to understand the possibilities of a limited slip differential and why it is a good investment if you live in an area with certain road conditions that require a limited slip differential.