What Is A Differential And How Does It Work?

Advertisement oopStory continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Skip to Content Subscribe to our Blind-Spot Monitor newsletters to catch up on all the top automotive stories of the week SIGN UP NOW Subscribe to our newsletters to catch up on all the top automotive stories of the week SIGN UP NOW Find your car   Search driving.ca Perform search

• Car Finder
  • Most Popular Cars
    • Tesla Model Y
    • Honda Civic
    • Toyota RAV4
    • Tesla Model 3
    • Honda CR-V
    • Toyota Corolla Cross
    • Ford F-150
    • Nissan Kicks
    • Ford Bronco
    • Subaru Crosstrek
  • Car Rankings 2026
    • Best SUVs
    • Best Luxury SUVs
    • Most Efficient Plug-in Hybrid SUVs
    • Best Hybrid SUVs
    • Cheapest Electric Cars
  • Car Rankings 2025
    • Best SUVs
    • Cheapest Electric Cars
    • Best Hybrid SUVs
    • Most Efficient Plug-in Hybrid SUVs
    • Best Luxury SUVs
  • Car Rankings 2024
    • Best SUVs
    • Cheapest Electric Cars
    • Best Hybrid SUVs
    • Most Efficient Plug-in Hybrid SUVs
    • Best Luxury SUVs
  • Brands
    • Acura
    • Alfa Romeo
    • Aston Martin
    • Audi
    • Bentley
    • BMW
    • Buick
    • Cadillac
    • Chevrolet
    • Chrysler
    • Dodge
    • Ferrari
    • Fiat
    • Fisker
    • Ford
    • Genesis
    • GMC
    • Honda
    • Hyundai
    • Infiniti
    • Jaguar
    • Jeep
    • Kia
    • Lamborghini
    • Land Rover
    • Lexus
    • Lincoln
    • Lotus
    • Lucid
    • Maserati
    • Mazda
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes-Benz
    • Mini
    • Nissan
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
    • Polestar
    • Porsche
    • Ram
    • Rivian
    • Roll-Royce
    • Subaru
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
    • Vinfast
    • Volkswagen
    • Volvo
• Reviews
  • Previews
  • First Drives
  • Road Tests
  • Comparison Tests
  • Road Trips
  • Reader Reviews
  • Owner Reviews
  • Used Vehicle Guides
• Advice
  • Maintenance
  • Safety
  • Insurance
  • Gear Guide
  • Winter Driving
  • Shopping Advice
  • New Car Deals
  • Best in Class
  • More Features
• News
  • New Vehicles
  • Technology
  • Awards and Surveys
  • Info For Drivers
  • Industry News
  • Entertainment
  • Crash, Bang, Wow
  • Local News
  • Auto Shows
  • Driving en Français
• Experts
  • Motor Mouth
  • Lorraine Explains
  • Best-Selling Cars
  • Troubleshooter
  • Corner Wrench
  • How It Works
  • Plugged In
  • Driving into the Future
  • On the Road
  • Collector Classics
• Car Culture
  • Speed & Performance
  • Vintage & Collectible
  • Off-roading
  • Technology & Innovation
  • Sustainability
  • People
  • Travel
  • Top 10s and Lists
• Vehicle Types
  • Pickup Trucks
  • Luxury Vehicles
  • Supercars
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Hybrids
  • Family Vehicles
  • Affordable Vehicles
  • Performance Vehicles
  • Classic Cars & Trucks
  • Used Vehicles
  • Motorcycles
• Video
• Podcasts
• Newsletters

• Profile
• Settings
• Saved Articles
• Newsletters
• Customer Service
• FAQ
• Sign Out

• Car Finder
• Reviews
• Advice
• News
• Experts
• Car Culture
• Vehicle Types
• Video
• Podcasts
• Newsletters

Sponsored My Picks 0Edit My PicksCompare NowAdvertisement 1This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Breadcrumb Trail Links

1. Home
2. How it works

Article content

If you’ve ever played with a Hot Wheels car, and of course you have, you know the toy does a great job of going in a straight line but doesn’t turn very well.

Article content

That’s because it doesn’t have a differential. Your vehicle does, however, whether it’s front-, rear-, four-, or all-wheel-drive. What type of differential you have, and even how many, depends on what you’re driving.

Article contentArticle contentAdvertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Article content

What is a differential?

Article content

On a turn, the outside wheel travels farther and faster than the inside one. The differential is a set of gears that transmits engine power to the wheels, while allowing them to turn at different speeds on turns.

Article content

What is a front differential?

Article content

With front-wheel-drive (FWD), the differential is alongside the transmission inside a housing, and the unit is called a transaxle.

Article content

What is a rear differential and how does it work?

Article contentArticle content

With rear-wheel-drive (RWD), the differential is between the rear wheels, connected to the transmission by a driveshaft. All-wheel-drive (AWD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles add a centre differential or transfer case to distribute power front and rear.

Article content

Wonder what your car is worth?

Get your instant cash offer in under 2 minutes.

Get Offer Article content

Some hybrid vehicles have “electronic” AWD. These use electric motors to power the rear wheels, and turn them faster or slower as needed on turns.

Article content

What is an open differential?

Article content

The open differential allows the wheels to turn independently at different speeds. Its main drawback is that if one wheel doesn’t have traction, such as if it hits ice, it still gets lots of power. It spins helplessly, and you go nowhere.

Article content

To help with traction loss while you’re driving, all new vehicles must be equipped with traction and electronic stability control. These use sensors from the anti-lock brakes to determine if one wheel is turning faster. It then reduces engine power, or brakes the spinning wheel, or both, to get things under control.

Advertisement 1This advertisement has not loaded yet.Trending

1. Canada border officials fine used-vehicle exporter $36.9 million

   Montreal
2. What are pilot/escort trucks, and how do you stay safe around them?
3. The auto industry prioritizes vehicle safety, but not always personal safety
4. Paint restoration: Restoring faded paint on your car