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Old 09-12-2009, 11:20 PM   #49 (permalink)
Christ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcb View Post
Sorry Christ, but that just doesn't sound right. The only time the other wheel affects the rotational speed of the first is when it is spinning backwards you are saying?

Edit: no argument that there are plenty of examples of self destructing differentials though. This is not an entirely serious suggestion
Precisely. The differential's speed is based on it's input, not the wheel speed. The wheels' speeds are independent of each other.

This means that if the engine is coupled directly to the differential, and the differential's ratio is 2:1, when the engine speed is 2000 RPM, the output speed of the differential is 4000 RPM, regardless of which wheel it goes to. Neither wheel will spin any faster than 4000 RPM, regardless of the opposing wheel's speed.

If you are NOT driving the differential, you can spin one wheel either forward or backward, and the other wheel will spin 1:1 with it in the opposite direction, unless you have LSD engaged, or you have POSI or a welded diff.
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