A differential is designed to help the outside wheels and the inside wheels on a Dodge Ram turn at the same speed to prevent the car from slipping. There are four main types of differentials that can be used on Dodge Ram trucks and each is best suited to a specific purpose.
The open differential is one of the kinds that are most commonly installed on Dodge Ram trucks straight from the factory. The open differential system allows the wheels to turn at the same speed. It is ideal for city and highway driving. One of the drawbacks of this system, however, is that at high-speed turns, when the outside wheel receives little traction, the same amount of traction is applied to the opposite wheel. This will stop the truck from turning altogether. The purpose of the open system is to divide the torque evenly between the wheels to prevent tipping and excessive slipping. This is great for city situations but performs poorly in off-road driving.
The limited slip differential is the kind that is most used for off-road trucks and adverse weather conditions. The limited slip differential provides a hybrid mixture between leaving the differential open and locking it, so that the wheels are forced to turn more slowly. The limited slip option is best for drivers who do a mixture of highway and off-road driving. However, the differential does slip when there is less traction on the road, such as during icy or rainy conditions. The system also does not usually last longer than 50,000 miles of driving.
The locking differential system applies all torque received from the engine to the wheel that is receiving the most traction at the time. This system works extremely well for off-road driving but will cause jerking and unsteady movement on paved roads. The locking system is also twice as expensive as regular open or limited slip options. However, for trucks that are mainly driven off road, this is the ideal differential.
The air lock differential system is the most expensive but it also provides the most versatile performance. This system can be switched between the traction control offered by the locking system and the maneuverability offered by the open systems for city driving. Differentials of this kind are upwards of $1000, but it is worth it if you often switch between highway and off-road driving.
