How to Use a Differential Lock?
2 Answers
When a vehicle is passing through muddy sections with poor passage capability, the differential lock can be engaged to enhance the vehicle's traction. The function of the differential lock is to lock the planetary gear mechanism of the differential, turning the connected ends into a rigid connection, thereby eliminating speed differences. Normally, when a car turns, the inner wheels travel a shorter distance than the outer wheels, which can lead to unstable steering and increased tire friction. More details are as follows: 1. The differential component allows the wheels on both ends of the power output shaft to decouple, enabling unequal speeds. 2. When driving through poor road conditions, locking the differential ensures both wheels receive equal power, providing greater force to a stuck vehicle and significantly increasing the chances of escape. 3. This enhances the vehicle's off-road capability and is commonly used in military vehicles, off-road vehicles, and engineering vehicles. Based on the locking mechanism, differential locks can be categorized into: forced locking type, high-friction self-locking type, Torsen type, and viscous coupling type.
Last time I went off-roading on rough terrain, I specifically studied the differential lock. Simply put, it's a switch that makes both wheels spin together when the car gets stuck. For example, when crossing shell craters or climbing steep slopes, if you feel one wheel slipping and spinning freely, check the differential lock indicator on the dashboard. Press the switch or move the control lever (some cars have it on the center console, some near the gear lever), wait a few seconds until you hear a 'click' sound indicating the lock is engaged—this means both wheels are now rigidly connected. Here's the key point! After locking, the steering wheel will become heavier—never turn sharply as it can damage the transfer case. Also, never exceed 30 mph, and you must immediately unlock it on paved roads. Otherwise, the tires will grind hard against the ground during turns, which can ruin the tires at best or cause a rollover at worst. I've tested it myself in sand—once locked, a bit of throttle easily gets you unstuck, but turning it off immediately after use is a lifesaving rule.
