Why Does The Right Tire Spin With Open Rear?

[Jar Head]

I thought I knew a lot about auto stuff but when a friend asked me recently why the right tire spins with an open differential and not the left, I had to admit I did not know. Anyone?

 

[ctd8999]

Open Diff.

Jarhead, The torque puts the weight to the right rear, if the left was the only driver it would spin very easy. My expaination might not be to techical but you should see my point. Thanks Steve B.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Jarhead, The torque puts the weight to the right rear, if the left was the only driver it would spin very easy. My expaination might not be to techical but you should see my point. Thanks Steve B.

UMMmmm - well, ACTUALLY, torque puts the weight on the LEFT rear wheel, allowing the RIGHT side to lift slightly, and then spin...

 

[ctd8999]

Open diff.

The right side is the drive wheel, if the left was the only drive wheel, do to the weight tranfer there would very little traction. The weight goes to the right side. Thanks Steve B.

 

[CumminsBu]

How does a Posi Track on a Plymouth rear end work? I don't know it just does.

 

[Speedo]

UMMmmm - well, ACTUALLY, torque puts the weight on the LEFT rear wheel, allowing the RIGHT side to lift slightly, and then spin...

This is the correct answer, torque lifts the front of the axle as the pinion tries to climb the ring gear and the whole axle tries to rotate around the pinion unloading the right rear tire allowing it to spin easier. An open differential supplies equal torque to both axles and the one with the least amount of traction is the one that spins.



Gus

 

[fox]

It spins because it has less traction!

It has less because it has less weight, ( usually ) and because the torque at the driveshaft is trying to lift the right wheel.

The Sure grip on a Dodge/ Plymouth is aset of clutches that try to put equal torque at both wheels.

GM used the term posi-trac! I think it was Dodge that used one called the trac-lock??

 

[opjohnny]

You put an air bag on the right side and set the pressure to keep that tire from lifting into the fenderwell. A lot of guys do this to street/strip cars. Makes them hook better.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

So when you are south of the equator does the left tire spin?

 

[mjendrejcak]

throw it in reverse and punch it the ahhh. . reverse. . will happen left rear will go up in smoke since the load\weight is transfering to the other side.

 

[Moose Truck]

It spins becuase it can!!! :-laf

 

[dodge cummins]

ahhhh my head hurts

 

[RustyJC]

Stand at the rear of the truck and look at the direction the drive shaft is turning. When the truck is going forward, the drive shaft is turning counterclockwise (the top of the shaft is turning toward the left). This torque applied from the pinion to the ring gear tries to rotate the rear axle along with it, so the drive shaft will try to lift the right side of the rear axle and "plant" the left side under a hard launch moving forward.



In reverse, of course, the drive shaft turns clockwise which lifts the left side of the rear axle and "plants" the right side.



Rusty

 

[B.G. Smith]

UMMmmm - well, ACTUALLY, torque puts the weight on the LEFT rear wheel, allowing the RIGHT side to lift slightly, and then spin...

Well, yes, that's kinda how it is. The resistance of the direction of rotation of the drive shaft is trying to lift the left side of the body, the resistance to rotation of the rear differential is trying to lift the front of the vehicle, These two forces in combination result in the left front wheel being lifted completely off the ground (sometimes on some vehicle). The torque of the drive shaft and the resistance to turning of the differential and the flexing of the right rear spring (see air bag above) allows some weight to be removed from the right rear tire and it loses traction. Now on a front wheel drive vehicle, oh well, my head hurts too. bg