Jargon Buster
Workshop
Jargon Buster
DIFFERENTIALS / DIFFS / PUMPKINS
A differential can be found between the driving wheels on almost all modern vehicles, with many all-wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles employing up to three (front, centre and rear).
There are many mechanical variations on the differential, but all deliver the same basic operation.
For more on differentials, see Limited Slip Differentials.
LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIALS / LSD
If a vehicle was only ever to drive in a straight line on a flat road and never lose traction, then there would be no need for anything but a fixed axle assembly. The reality is however that roads are not always straight, flat or even, surface conditions change and the stresses imposed on a vehicle change by the second, according to the forces of acceleration, braking, cornering and more.
In their most common form, limited slip diffs employ mechanically driven clutches and gears to slow the rotation of wheels under less load (eg. those that have lost traction) transferring that power to those wheels under more load (eg. those that have maintained traction) thus ensuring all available power is being maximised.
DIFF STRAIGHTENING
Ozdiff employs specialised state-of-the-art diff straightening machinery to accurately measure and straighten damaged diff housings; in many cases returning them to their optimal shape without the use of heat. If you suspect your housing may be need straightening, contact us to arrange an inspection from one of our performance diff experts.
During cornering, a vehicle outer wheels must travel further than its inner wheels, while bearing the increased load imposed by the vehicle's body roll (away from the corner). Without a LSD, the reduced load on the inner wheels may result in inner wheel spin. With a LSD the inner wheel's rotation is retarded and power transferred to the outer wheel driving it around the corner.
LAPPING
Gear lapping can also be used to restore and give new life to worn gear sets.