A differential is an important part of any vehicle. Aside from monitoring the dispersion of power from the engine to the wheels, a vehicle's differential also controls the speed at which each wheel turns. As one can imagine, this is a big job to fulfill and plays an important role in a vehicle's overall operation and ride quality. Appropriately dispersing power that is generated in the engine to the wheels in a meaningful way can assist in making the most out of the power provided. It can also be detrimental is a lack of energy conservation by autos.
There are three types of differentials that are commonly used: an open differential, a locking differential, and a limited-slip differential. The LSD is the most prevalent in new vehicles because it is the most efficient at what it does. A limited-slip differential allows the shafts to rotate at different speeds, which is more efficient at managing power dispersion and output.