Center Differential: Construction
The center differential is composed of a mechanical differential and a viscous coupling and transmits the power from the transfer drive gear to the drive pinion shaft and the driven shaft.
The center differential has in general two functions; distributing engine torque to the front and rear wheel drive shafts equally, and absorbing the difference in rotating speed between the front and rear wheels during turns.
The differential with a viscous coupling, however, has the following function in addition to the above-mentioned functions. It generates viscous torque when spinning front or rear wheels have caused a rotating speed difference between the front and rear axles, limiting the differential action so that the optimum drive torque distribution may be attained.