How Does an Automotive Differential Work in a 2016 Mercedes-Benz G-Class?

G-Class Locking Differential

One of the things that sets the G-Class apart from competitors is the ability to adjust the drivetrain with the push of a button, or in this case, three buttons. The G-Class locking differential system gives the driver full control of all four wheels, making getting stuck a thing of the past. But how does it work?

Read More: How to Use Differential Lock

What is a Differential?

Imagine there is a large circle painted on the ground. Now imagine driving around that circle, keeping the center of the car directly above the line. As you follow the path, the wheels traveling on the outside of the circle have to spin faster than the wheels on the inside of the circle to keep up with the rate of travel. If all the wheels received the same amount of torque from the engine, you would lose control and would be thrown into a spin. A differential is a system of gears that sits at the center of the axle and balances out the amount of torque given to each wheel. In other words, if one wheel speeds up, the differential forces the other wheel to slow down.

G550 Differential Lock

The differential is an amazing invention and it is one hundred percent necessary, but it also causes some problems, especially in the snow or on a slippery trail. Have you ever gotten one wheel stuck in the snow and wondered why your car is stuck even though the opposite wheel is on dry pavement? It’s the differential’s fault. Because that one wheel has no traction, the car gives all the power to that wheel in an effort to catch up, even though it never will. This renders the wheel with traction completely useless.

Read More: 2016 G-Class Release Date

G63 4MATIC

This problem becomes even more an issue for vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive because now the car has four wheels to keep track of instead of two. To solve this problem, Mercedes-Benz developed a way to lock the differential, essentially skipping the balancing process. Other SUV makers have similar applications, but few are as easy to use as the one in the G-Class. Most competitors simply use 4×4 low and 4×4 high modes to control the differentials, but this is still limited because if all but one wheel are stuck, you would still be in trouble.

G65 All-wheel Drive

The G-Class has three differentials. One for the front wheels, one to connect the front wheels to the back wheels, and a third to control the speed of the back wheels. They can all be locked in sequence to get out of pretty much any situation.

The differential is an invention older than the automobile itself, potentially dating back thousands of years. Mercedes-Benz has one of the best applications of it, which is one of the reasons the G-Class is so popular. If you still have questions about your G-Class locking differential, or would like to see it in person, come to Mercedes-Benz of Arrowhead for a tour.