You might see a differential listed among a vehicles specs. If you're unsure about this components purpose, were happy to explain at Patrick BMW.
Turning a car requires the outside wheels and inside wheels to travel at different speeds. Also, the outside wheels will travel farther during the turn. If a car's designer does not allow for those facts, the car will lose valuable traction. Fortunately, the differential is a standard component on every two-wheel-drive vehicle.
Suppose you rode around Schaumburg on an ancient chariot. While you might attract curious looks, you would also notice that the two wheels on the chariot's axle travel at the same speed. The modern differential solves that problem by placing a gear arrangement between an axle's wheels. As a result, your vehicles driving wheels can properly navigate around curves while maintaining optimal traction and power distribution. On a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, the differential sits between the rear wheels, and you'll find it in the front of a front-wheel-drive model.
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