Differential torque

[bigmac]

If I have measured torque at each of the wheels in an axle assembly. If one axle has 500 ft-lbs and the other has 100 ft-lbs. What would you term the torque across the differential? Some have told me it is 400 ft-lbs and others have told me it is 600 ft-lbs.

Thanks!

 

[MaxRaceSoftware]

i think its

Tin = T1 + T2
so 600 lbs., for unequal torque differential
Larry Meaux (meauxrace2@aol.com)
Meaux Racing Heads
MaxRace Software
ET_Analyst for DragRacers

 

[ivymike]

I guess it really depends on what you mean by "torque across the differential." If you mean torque input to the diff, then Larry's answer is clearly the right one. If you mean torque transferred from one axle to the other (via a limited slip mechanism) then the difference in values, 400, (not the sum, 600) is the right answer.