Editing Differential (mechanical device) (section)

=== Limited-slip differentials ===
{{Main|Limited-slip differential}}

An undesirable side-effect of a regular ("open") differential is that it can send most of the power to the wheel with the lesser traction (grip).<ref>{{cite book |last=Bonnick |first=Allan |date=2001 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=odUZ0O_OWZwC&pg=PA22 |title=Automotive Computer Controlled Systems |isbn=9780750650892 |page=22 |publisher=Elsevier Science & Technology Books }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Bonnick |first=Allan |date=2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78HoZb-ohbIC&pg=PA123 |title=Automotive Science and Mathematics |isbn=9780750685221 |page=123 |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann }}</ref> In situation when one wheel has reduced grip (e.g. due to cornering forces or a low-grip surface under one wheel), an open differential can cause [[wheelspin]] in the tyre with less grip, while the tyre with more grip receives very little power to propel the vehicle forward.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chocholek |first=S. E. |date=1988 |url=http://zhome.com/ZCMnL/tech/Torsen/Torsen.htm |title=The Development of a Differential for the Improvement of Traction Control }}</ref>

In order to avoid this situation, various designs of ''limited-slip differentials'' are used to limit the difference in power sent to each of the wheels.