Auburn Gear Limited-Slip Differentials - proven performance and durability! Use this section to learn more about our OEM limited-slip differentials. We've put a lot of power into these products - so that you can too! Follow the resource links at the bottom of the page for more technical information about our limit-slip products.
Our unique cone clutch design, made to exacting specifications, outlasts
and outperforms plate-clutch designs for proven traction enhancement,
performance and unsurpassed durability.
The new ECTED™ - Welcome
to the ECTED's new home on the web. This section will allow you to keep
up to date on Auburn Gear's latest OEM Differential product!
ECTED
Auburn Gear has developed an Electronically Controlled Traction Enhancing
Differential – the ECTED™. The electronic activation
feature allows the ECTED to be interactive with vehicle dynamic systems
to provide optimum traction. It also does not require external pneumatic
or hydraulic connections. The ECTED greatly enhances the traction
required for severe off-road and towing applications such as pickup
trucks and SUVs. It can also be integrated with ABS and traction-control
systems to provide the enhanced traction required of luxury and sport
performance vehicles. The ECTED’s compact design and variable
torque transfer capability lends itself to many differential applications.
The ECTED’s simplicity, ease of installation, high torque
transfer capability, and other controllable features makes it an attractive
cost-to-benefit design.
ECTED's Features and Benefits
The ECTED is designed to be controlled by a vehicle’s on-board
control system. Listed below are some of the performance capabilities
when integrated into such a system:
Variable Torque Transfer Capability – The ECTED’s torque
transfer is electronically controlled and is infinitely variable from
essentially an open differential to that of 100% torque transfer. This
allows the transfer of torque to be modulated to give the vehicle maximum
traction without compromising vehicle stability.
Automatic Engagement & Disengagement – The ECTED is "seamless" to
the driver. When wheel slippage is sensed it instantly and automatically
engages to the torque bias level required. Likewise, it automatically
disengages immediately when torque transfer is not needed. Additionally,
the friction-based clutches of the ECTED allow for smooth and quiet
engagement and disengagement unlike "positive clutch" style
differentials which are abrupt and noisy.
Programmable to Anticipate Wheel Slip – Since the clutch actuation
is electronic, the ECTED does not have to rely on wheel slip to be
activated as with viscous-type and hydraulic designs. When controlled
by a system that monitors throttle position, the ECTED can be engaged
when a rapid increase in throttle position is sensed, indicating a
desire for maximum acceleration and traction. In this situation, the
ECTED engages in anticipation of the need for maximum traction.
ABS & C-lock Compatible – Because the ECTED is electronically
controlled and is capable of instantaneous disengagement, it can be
deactivated at any point in time so as to not interfere with ABS systems.
It is also designed to accept C-lock designed axle shafts.
Programmable to Meet Vehicle Performance Requirements – When
connected to a vehicle’s on-board control system and monitoring
conditions such as wheel speeds, steering position, throttle position,
yaw, etc., the ECTED can be controlled to meet a variety of vehicle
performance requirements.
Fits Into Most Existing Axle Housings – The ECTED has been
developed in several sizes and has been designed to fit within many
current OEM axles without modification except for a wire entrance hole.
ECTED Don't
just limit slip, control it! In testing now,
our Electronically Controlled Traction Enhancing Differential (the
ECTED™) has the brains and brawn to get your vehicle to those
places other differentials limit you from.

Limited-Slip
A proven OEM differential for passenger cars, light trucks, and
high performance vehicles.
Auburn Gear Limited-Slip Differentials - proven
performance and durability! Use this section to learn more about
our OEM limited-slip differentials. We've put a lot of power into
these products - so that you can too!
About AG Differentials
The operating envelope for any traction enhancing differential
is determined by the lines shown for an open differential (minimum
torque bias) and a solid axle (maximum torque bias).
The intercept of the torque bias line is determined by the spring
preload. The slope of the torque bias line is determined by the characteristics
of the clutch design.
The effective operating envelope of a limited-slip differential
ranges from 1.67:1 to 5.0:1 torque bias ratio.
Equation: Torque Bias Ratio = (Tight Wheel Torque)/(Loose
Wheel Torque)
Differential Background
How the Auburn Limited-Slip Differential Works
The highly efficient torque transfer capability of the Auburn Gear
limited-slip differential is achieved through the use of cone clutches
coupled to beveled side gears. As torque is transmitted through the
differential side gears to the axle shafts, the side gear separating
forces and spring pre-load firmly seat the cones into the differential
case. The cone design, along with the applied force, determines the
torque transfer capability of the differential. When torque levels
decrease, as in a cornering maneuver the gear separating forces also
decrease, allowing the axle shafts to rotate independently. All Auburn
Gear limited-slip differentials are designed to provide the maximum
amount of torque transfer without compromising the performance requirements
of a vehicle in situations where torque transfer is not required.
Features of the Auburn Limited-Slip Differential
The Auburn Gear
limited-slip differential allows more power to be transferred to
the high-traction wheel than is possible with other differentials.
Along with greater power transfer capabilities, its design can
be tailored to meet the specific performance requirements of your
vehicular applications. In performance vehicles, features can be
specified to enable high torque transfer during acceleration yet
provide low resistance for cornering under normal driving conditions.
In trucks and recreational vehicles, characteristics can be modified
to provide high torque transfer for low traction start-up conditions.
Applications
No matter what your application-performance or passenger cars,
light duty trucks, vans, sport utility vehicles, off road, or
recreational vehicles the Auburn Gear limited-slip differential
can be engineered for your design requirements to provide smooth
torque sensing operation with bias ratios to meet your performance
needs.
State-Of-The-Art Design and Test Lab
You get exactly what you specify -- faster and at a lower cost
-- with Auburn Gear's CAE/CAD system, complete with Finite Element
Analysis [FEA]. This system allows us to develop and optimize
the differential design for your requirements.
These designs are challenged in the real world with our prototype
testing labs, where every aspect from metallurgical properties to mechanical
performance is proven against the design parameters. Our axle dynamometer
tests the differentials to prove the design under load conditions while
computer-aided manufacturing systems produce components to individual
design specifications.
But testing is not confined to in-house labs alone. Our unique
on-site testing capability brings engineers right into the field
to prove the design of our limited-slip differentials under actual
working conditions. Differentials are subjected to a variety of
rigorous vehicle tests to assure you of getting the high performance
reliability you need.
Located in the industrial heartland of America, Auburn Gear has the
capability and capacity to meet increasing world market demands for traction-enhancing
differentials-all while maintaining and improving every aspect of design,
quality, delivery, and price which translates to total customer satisfaction
for you.
About Auburn Gear, Inc.
The company was organized in 1982. As a former division of a major
US manufacturer it has almost 60 years of gear manufacturing experience
at this location. Customers served are international builders of vehicles
and machinery for the automotive, truck, bus, aerial lift, agricultural,
light and heavy construction, mining, forest products and marine industries.
Capabilities include full line design, development, test and manufacture
of a wide range of geared products. Facilities include development, gauge,
gear and metallurgical laboratories. Production facilities on premises
include capability for turning, gear cutting, spline rolling, heat treat,
shot peening and finished grinding. Shipment of product to customer certified
quality standards is made on a just in time basis. Application engineering
capability in collaboration with customer engineering departments insures
optimum product performance
Click here to download the Auburn Gear catalog