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A normal differential allows one drive wheel to go slightly faster than the other, as is needed during turns. When a vehicle goes around a corner, the right and left wheels actually travel different distances, with the "inside" wheel traveling significantly less than the outside wheel. A differential allows those wheels to both receive power while traveling at different rates, but if one wheel is slipping, such as might happen when it is on ice, there can be very little pulling force on either wheel.

A locking differential does just that, it locks the axle to force the wheels to go the same speed. While that is an excellent idea to help you get traction in the mud or other slippery surfaces, it can cause significant problems when you try to go around a corner. Many large trucks and earth moving equipment use locking differentials to provide additional traction.

A limited slip differential is kind of a hybrid between the two types of differential. In a limited slip differential, the wheels are allowed to move at different speeds but the internal clutch puts tension on both, causing the axles to both receive power. Limited slip differentials can be troublesome, since the clutch will quickly wear out if both drive tires are not the same size or don't have the same amount of wear.

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