Limited Slip Differential
The locking differential consists of the following components:
- Cast Iron Differential Carrier Housing
- Aluminum Differential Carrier Housing Cover
- Pinion gear shaft
- Differential pinion gear shaft lock pin
- Limited Slip Differential Clutch Disc Splined (Friction material on disc and splines on the inside of disc)
- Limited Slip Differential Clutch Disc Eared (Disc without friction material and ears to the outside of the disc)
- Differential side gears
- Differential clutch disc thrust washer
- Differential pinion gears
- Differential pinion gear thrust washers
The 218mm rear axle can be identified by the rear axle housing cover. The 218mm will have 2 bolts across the top of the rear axle housing cover and a total of 10 bolts in the rear axle housing cover.
In a conventional differential, if one wheel spins, the opposite wheel will generate only as much torque as the wheel with the least amount of traction. In a limited slip differential, part of the ring gear torque is transmitted through clutch packs which contain multiple discs. In operation, two forces engage the limited slip differential's clutches. The first is the pre-load force within the clutch packs. The second is the separating forces generated by the side gears as torque is applied through the ring gear. The limited slip design provides the action needed for turning corners and for driving in a straight line when traction is uneven. When one wheel loses traction, the clutch packs transfer additional torque to the wheel having the most traction. Limited slip differential resist wheel spin on bumpy roads and provides greater pulling power when one wheel loses traction. If both wheels slip due to unequal traction, limited slip operation is normal. Also in extreme case of unequal traction, the wheel with the least amount of traction may spin.