what is a rear differential?

Answer 1

the area that makes your rear wheels spin.
Take a T and look at it.
That is how the wheels move forward and reverse.
There is a universla joint that makes it all work.

Answer 2

A differential regardless of whether it is front or rear, or in both locations (all 4WD or AWD vehicles have some sort of differential).

A differential is a mechanical gear set that will, 1. allow the front or rear wheels or all wheels to spin at different speeds such as what takes place when turning. 2. allow the wheels to be mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically connected together (lockers) to provide constant traction even if 3 wheels have no traction and the 4th wheel has traction the vehicle can still move. 3. Transfers power from the transmission and/or transfer case to the front or rear wheels or both front and rear wheels to move the vehicle. Basically the differential is the final connection to the wheels.

Answer 3

A rear differential is an integral part of a cars drive train. It includes a gear set that first converts the prop shaft speed to the final drive ratio, so that the drive wheels can better use it.

It then sends the power to both wheels. In the instance that the out side wheel has to turn faster than the inside wheel, it can allow for some differentiating of the output speeds so that the inside wheel doesn't spin its power away. There are other special differentials, like limited slips and lockers, that are used in racing and off orad applications.

Answer 4

The differential is a device that splits the engine torque two ways, allowing each output to spin at a different speed.


The differential is found on all modern cars and trucks, and also in many all-wheel-drive (full-time four-wheel-drive) vehicles. These all-wheel-drive vehicles need a differential between each set of drive wheels, and they need one between the front and the back wheels as well, because the front wheels travel a different distance through a turn than the rear wheels. Part-time four-wheel-drive systems don't have a differential between the front and rear wheels; instead, they are locked together so that the front and rear wheels have to turn at the same average speed. This is why these vehicles are hard to turn on concrete when the four-wheel-drive system is engaged

Answer 5

A differential gear, when you turn a corner, allows the wheel on the outside of the turn to go around more times than the one on the inside, because it has to travel farther. This gear is on the set of wheels that are driven by the engine. If you have four-wheel drive, you need a differential gear on both front and back, but NOT primarily because the front wheels travel farther than the back wheels.

Answer 6

It's the part of a vehicle that the driveline goes into (that long cylendar thing on the bottom of the car that turns as the car goes into) that makes the power convert to the rear tires. It's just a bunch of gears in a case. (but nice answer Caputimus)

Answer 7

in a rwd car .. that is where the transmission send the power.. its connected to the rear wheels....

that big buldge u see in pickups and semi trucks.. that is a rear differential...

Answer 8

The buttress

Answer 9

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential1.

or

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Differential_(mechanics)

better than my own words...