RE: how does an open differential work

[David Eaton <david.eaton@computerland.co.nz>]

nope, you're wrong sorry.  easy to test.  take your parents car (fwd or
rwd), jackup one wheel and startup, put it into gear, and let out the
clutch.

voila, no movement, and one nicely spinning wheel.  $1,000 on it, any
day............

disclaimer.  make sure that you know which axle is driven, and that the
diff being used is an "open" one, rather than one with a locking action
of some sort!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q

>-----Original Message-----
>
>Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 15:46:23 -0800 (PST)
>From: Orin Eman <orin@wolfenet.com>
>
>> "This rotation allows the pinions(your bevel gears) to compensate for
>> the difference in rotational speed of the side gears(connected to drive
>> axles) - while continuing to drive both side gears. This differential
>> action is self adjusting to any variation in axle speed - but only until
>> one wheel begins to slip.
>
>> When one wheel  begins to slip or to spin, the case will continue to
>> rotate the pinions but, instead of driving both side gears, the pinions
>> will take the path of least resistance, rotate on their shaft, and
>> "walk" around the axle connected to the wheel with greater traction. All
>> the torque will be directed toward the spinning wheel. 
>
>I disagree, as does the Bosch Automotive Handbook.  The slipping wheel
>case is actually better than this.
>
>What I am saying is that in the slipping wheel case, wheel accelerated
>to its maximum speed, then there is an equal amount of torque directed
>to the non-slipping wheel.  Has to be.  Moments about any point on any
>bevel gear must sum to 0 or it will be accelerating.
>
>