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A transmission mechanism that allows the wheels on a driven axle to rotate at different speeds.
Reviewed 05.10.2026 · Version 3 · Scope: General
When turning, the wheels on the same axle travel along paths of different lengths. The differential accommodates this difference; limited-slip versions have additional specific characteristics.
If two imaginary wheels travel around a curve, one on the inside and one on the outside, their paths are not the same length even though they are on the same axle.
It helps explain the transmission and identify the specific type of differential when comparing vehicles.
Open differential, limited-slip differential, and differential lock are not interchangeable terms. A differential alone does not determine whether a vehicle has all-wheel drive.
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