How Does a Vehicle's Differential Work?

Have you ever wondered about how your vehicle is able to maneuver through a turn? Of course, the wheels turn to allow the car to move in a different direction, but it's a bit more complicated than that. One of the main components in turning your automobile is the differential, and the staff here at Cassill Motors Inc in Cedar Rapids, IA wants you to understand how this system works.

The differential is a part that works with your axle to allow wheels to spin at different speeds, which is important in a turn. In a front-wheel drive, the differential is on the front axle, and it's on the rear axle in a rear-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles have differentials on both axles.

Differentials are generally made to last the life of your vehicle and don't have a regular service schedule, but it's a good idea to have them checked every once in a while.