How does a Diff (Differential) work: Open vs. Locked, Ratios and Gears Explained!

Ever wondered how a differential actually works or why an open diff leads to the dreaded "one-wheel peel"? In the first episode of Shop101 we strip down the mystery of the automotive drivetrain using an open-faced, custom working model to show you exactly how torque moves from your driveshaft to your tires. Whether you are a rock crawler trying to understand lockers, a drif builder weighing a welded diff vs a spool or just want to learn how gear ratios impact your vehicle's performance this step by step mechanical breakdown has you covered What you will learn in this video: The Components and torque load path: Follow the exact torque paths through the pinion gear, ring gear, diff carrier, cross pin, spider gears, side gears and out to your axle shafts. Gear Ratio Maths: See how to calculate your diff ration with the tooth count of your ring and pinion. We use a 40T/20T and 56T/14T example. Open vs Locked: Why and open differential splits torque 50/50, sending all your power to the wheel with lowest resistance. We also investigate how lockers or welded spider gears keep you moving on the trail How diffs work around corners: Take a look inside our model as the diff allows differential rotation speeds around a corner Drop a comment below: What differential setup are you currently running in your rig or race car? 00:00 - Introduction 02:15 - Parts of a Diff: Ring and Pinion, Carrier, Cross shaft, Spider gears, side gears and axle shafts 03:56 - Why 4 Spider Gears beats a 2 Spider setup 06:30 - Deciphering Diff Ratios (3.73, 4.11, 4.56, 4.88, 5,13) explained 10:00 - How does the diff work straight line, stuck and cornering 11:53 - Difference in wheel rotation through the differential 16:59 - Lockers and the affect on wheel rotation and torque 20:37 - Demonstrating wheel slip with a locked differential 22:40 - Wrapup