limited slip diff

[zadie]

How does it work

[Clanad]

I usually dislike posting links, but this one has a visual aid that helps in the description... better than I could do using words alone...

http://www.4x4abc.com/4WD101/ls.html

[Toureman]

In simple terms, if one driving wheel starts to spin because it is in mud or on ice etc the driving force is diverted more to the other driving wheel.

[markja]

case one: normal diff; one wheel spins & all the drive from the gear box goes through this wheel and none to the other wheel.

case two: limited diff; one wheel spins, the diff only allows a certain amount of differance between the amount of drive to each wheel. (it limits it ) when this limit is reached the diff then drives both wheels about equally. it does't allow all/most of the drive to dissappear down the spinning wheel,so you don't lose all your drive.

case three: diff lock; turn on diff lock and drive is equal to both wheels even when one has no grip.(electronics in modern vehs allow for different turning circles of inner & outer wheels)

[zadie]

Many thanks to all - these answers were a great help to my husband.