2007-01-12 05:21:34 · 4 answers · asked by donteology 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
I assume you mean intentionally changing the differential for a performance reason on a rear-wheel drive vehicle as opposed to changing for a repair.
In my experience differentials are changed to modify the axle ratio. Axle ratio is number of revolutions a drive shaft makes for a single rotation of a rear tire. A 3 to 1 (3.00:1) ratio means the drive shaft completely turns three times for every revolution of the rear tire. The ratio has an effect on engine speed and provides what engineers call "torque multiplication." A numerically low (example: 2.50:1) provides lower engine speed per vehicle speed but less torque. The vehicle will have better mileage, cannot tow as great a load, but will tend to have greater top speed. A numerically high ratio (example: 3.50:1) results in high engine rpms but much greater pulling power. So in this situation the mileage is worse but the vehicle can carry a much greater load and acceleration is better. Drag racers typically use numerically high ratios. Transmission gearing and tire/wheel size also have the same effects as axle ratio.
Therefore an axle ratio is changed to enhance some performance characteristic that the original hardware is unable to meet.
2007-01-12 06:55:59 · answer #1 · answered by db79300 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Rear end affects the "top speed" of the vehicle. As regular transmissions cannot be adjusted, the only thing you really CAN adjust is the rear end.
2007-01-12 13:24:42 · answer #2 · answered by Kasey C 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
well there is two reasons topspeed and better gas milage at higher speeds.
2007-01-12 13:28:02 · answer #3 · answered by mark 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
get tired of wearing same clothes
2007-01-12 13:24:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋