The heart of the axle is the carrier, which includes a set of gears called the “differential nest”. The standard differential has 2 main functions: 1) Directs an equal amount of torque to each wheel end through axle shafts and 2) Compensates for speed differences between the wheel ends as when you’re in a turn. While the standard differential performs well in most road conditions, under slippery conditions the standard differential tries to balance the torque to each wheel, but only transmits torque equal to what can be achieved under the wheel with the least traction. For example, if one wheel is on ice while other is on a good surface the amount of drive torque is limited by the wheel on the ice. This may not be enough to move the vehicle, or worse, can damage the differential if the driver allows one wheel to spin freely for an extended period of time while the other is stationary.

Traction Control devices overcome this limitation. There are many different designs; however, they all have the same goal - distribute additional torque to the wheel on the highest traction surface to keep the vehicle moving. AxleTech offers several proven designs for most every axle.