An automotive differential is a complete mechanical component on a car or truck that uses a series of shafts and gears to control the movement of the wheels on a vehicle. Differentials are essential for vehicles to maintain traction and continue moving. Differentials serve their greatest purposes under slippery conditions, where the wheels of a vehicle may not have sufficient traction. The gear designs of differentials allow the differential to provide power to the wheels that have the most traction, allowing the vehicle to continue moving or regain traction.
There are many types of differentials, from limited-slip differentials to spur-gear differentials and many others. Each type of differential has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, offering better capabilities under certain conditions. Vehicles use certain differentials based on their intended use. For example, cars that race on drag strips will not need off-road differentials while trucks are perfect candidates for off-road differentials.