Post a pic of your real car
- Thread starter Sparxxx
- 15,504 comments
- 1,208,555 views
jbrennen is right. To put it simply, the differential is the part of the drivetrain that connects the transmission to the wheels. An open differential offers no resistance and allows the left and right wheels to spin at different speeds. A limited slip does what its name implies -- it limits the amount of slip, or speed difference, between the left and right wheels. A locked differential doesn't allow any speed difference between the two wheels, which makes turning difficult on pavement and stressful for the tires and drivetrain.
The problem with open differentials is that if you're doing hard cornering and apply the throttle, the inside wheel (which barely has any weight on it) will start to spin and you'll lose acceleration. This is because an open differential will send power to the place where it finds the least amount of resistance. The same goes for winter driving -- if one drive wheel is on dry pavement and the other is on slick ice, the open differential will send power to the wheel with ice under it because it offers the least resistance.
A limited-slip differential, on the other hand, will send power to the wheel with pavement under it as soon as the ice wheel starts spinning. This aids in traction under hard cornering, too, because the outside wheel will still receive power when the inside wheel begins to spin. This is particularly helpful for FWD cars like the Sentra, which will understeer like crazy if the inside wheel is let loose. However, unlike a locked differential, the limited slip differential will still allow the wheels to turn at slightly different speeds in corners, just like the open diff.
Why do manufacturers bother with open differentials, then? They're cheaper, last longer, and are good enough for almost all of the driving that ordinary people do.
The problem with open differentials is that if you're doing hard cornering and apply the throttle, the inside wheel (which barely has any weight on it) will start to spin and you'll lose acceleration. This is because an open differential will send power to the place where it finds the least amount of resistance. The same goes for winter driving -- if one drive wheel is on dry pavement and the other is on slick ice, the open differential will send power to the wheel with ice under it because it offers the least resistance.
A limited-slip differential, on the other hand, will send power to the wheel with pavement under it as soon as the ice wheel starts spinning. This aids in traction under hard cornering, too, because the outside wheel will still receive power when the inside wheel begins to spin. This is particularly helpful for FWD cars like the Sentra, which will understeer like crazy if the inside wheel is let loose. However, unlike a locked differential, the limited slip differential will still allow the wheels to turn at slightly different speeds in corners, just like the open diff.
Why do manufacturers bother with open differentials, then? They're cheaper, last longer, and are good enough for almost all of the driving that ordinary people do.
A ford Focus in the US????JCE3000GTI washed her again today...so hopefully she's shining well enough for these higher res pics. Yay for stockness!
I actually had to reduce the size 50% just to get them to even fit in Photobucket without them auto resizing...
Might as well make my first post a show-off 
2002 VW Passat W8 4motion
2002 VW Passat W8 4motion
What the heck is a shiny W8 Passat like that doing in Iowa, of all places! 
Yeah, we've gotten them since 2000. However, we're still getting the first-gen model to this day -- when you guys got the second-gen, we just got a restyled exterior...an uglier one, at that.
kikie
Yeah, we've gotten them since 2000. However, we're still getting the first-gen model to this day -- when you guys got the second-gen, we just got a restyled exterior...an uglier one, at that.
- 1,759
kikie
We've had em for a long while now.
- 26,626
- OREGON
- a6m5zero
Nice Passat. 👍 Good color and rims really match the car as well.
No kidding. Just like that last Accord facelift(in the back, so you may use your imagination for the name on that one), if it's gonna make the car uglier, why do it? IMO, neither car looked outdated either. I don't know about Accord, but Ford did update more than just the exterior though. I still like the look of Focus, but nowhere near as much as I liked the first one.Wolfe2x7when you guys got the second-gen, we just got a restyled exterior...an uglier one, at that.
I already got million dents, now small chips all over the hood(you guys call it bonnet?) too!?
Wolfe2x7What the heck is a shiny W8 Passat like that doing in Iowa, of all places!
And how is Wisconsin any better than Iowa??a6m5
Thanks!! I'm not a big fan of the rims...I'm probably going with 18" black rims with a chrome lip. You can check out more of my car and my plans at http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=216386
- 1,823
My new drift toy, '81 2+2 GL. Needs some body and interior work, but the engine is strong at only 140k original miles. It's also cammed, has 265cc injectors, a full mandrel bent exhaust on an upgraded exhaust manifold, and runs quieter than I've ever heard any SOHC motor run. Did I mention it was totally free?
- 1,759
How'd you get it for free.
- 1,823
Definitely, there's alot of rust on the rear quarters and there's a small spot in the passenger side footwell rusted through, but other than that it's just going to be dent pulling and paint. It's got an interesting oddity with the VIN (From the factory), so I'm trying to find someone who can do a VIN lookup for me.
I got it for free because a very nice person was tired of seeing it sit in his driveway, and rather than sell it to the crusher, he wanted to see it go to a good home. After he saw the Caddy in action, I was his first pick
I got it for free because a very nice person was tired of seeing it sit in his driveway, and rather than sell it to the crusher, he wanted to see it go to a good home. After he saw the Caddy in action, I was his first pick
- 738
- DJC330Wagon
Just realised I haven't posted this in here yet. Got it back in April. 330i - manual of course.
Edit: Got a flat now so running around on the spacesaver. It's so humiliating.
Edit: Got a flat now so running around on the spacesaver. It's so humiliating.
- 548
- J_enko
edit
- 825
- Charlotte, NC
- CosmicMS3
- I2valve
About 6 months ago, I don't have any updated pictures on the internet except for this one (around May)...
I have a fairing for the rack that needs to be installed and the fogs are now yellow (although you can't really tell). Im in Ireland still so I can't take any more until I get back home.
- 692
here we go, its even got the hand written message on it to prove that it is mine:
- 1,600
- Alhambra, CA
- chop-uh
- Sr Crumbbiscuit
Well, after much delay, here's mine. Hopefully I'll have some other pics soon.
http://img53.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thabenzqn4.jpg
http://img53.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thabenzqn4.jpg
- 4,522
- TwinTurboJay
👍 Dude, classy lookin benz!
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