Differential lock vs traction control

To my Understanding is both are used for the same purpose but with different methodology

Diff Lock : More or less it is a non computer based locking of wheels on the same axis/ axle ( either front or rear or both ) . There are no sensors involved . Vehicles with diff locks are suspected to damage on a bend as then the axles are overloaded.

Traction controls : It is a sensor based power supply to wheels ( essentially thru use a computer, but fluidised coupling tech is also used in some older versions ). Like wheel spin is avoided at all times by reducing the power being supplied to the wheel

Simply speaking , high tech vehicles are furnished with traction control which is centralised and mostly in vehicles with independant power drives .( it acts like a fluid coupling but is automatically controlled thru motion sensors and a plc) Traction control vehicles are very usefull as dependance on quality of driver skills are greatly reduced . Honda CRV has it and it is operative in all conditions. More so , driving in motorway , up the kallar kahar mountains , on a bend , traction control will come into play and provide power to a specific wheel as per requirement . BUT TRACTION CONTROL has its limits . Hardcore offroading may not prove to be as easy with traction control as with a diff lock option

A lot of difference

Traction control prevents wheels from making a locking while brakes are applied with full force. If the wheels lock up...u loose steering control and resultantly u bang into the car in front. In a car with traction contol feature, u can fearlessly apply brakes with full force and even steer the car. You are not going to loose the steering control. Its a brake related thing that is more useful while driving on road.

Diff locks adds traction to a vehicle off road. The engine power is equally distributed to all four wheels through drive train (transfer case, prop shafts, axles). So it is a drive train related thing. If diffrentials are open (unlocked) the power to each wheel can vary to compensate for different driving condition. E.g. during a turn, inner wheels cover shorter distance than the outer wheels, so differential, by default, is doing the compensation by sending less drive to inner wheels and driving the outer wheels more ... that why its called differential. Now if u lock the differential, e.g lock the rear axle, the rear axle will loose it default function and will act as a single rod type axle of a toy car. What u achieve:- With a locked differential, if you get one tyre stuck, the other will retain the grip and let u drive out. A car with its diff locked should only be driven off road, as the differential can't compensate variable power during a turn, it will result in excessive tire wear or u may even end up winding up your differetials.

Most 4x4s only have center diff locks. Only few comes with rear axle diff locks.

@ above
traction control is not used for braking.
ur tolking abut ABS the alow not to slip ur TYRes

TRANCTION cntrol allows u to accelarate ur car as fast as u cn without WHEELs SPIN

READ both again.
ull get ur answer cleared

Traction Control : It uses the brakes to make sure they dont skid while accelerating, to avoid wheel spin....this gives more grip/traction....this gives better handling in straight line and turns and slipery conditions...

Differential lock : This has nothing to do wid grip in a straight line....this has everything to do with the axels while the car is being steered.....

Here is a video to teach u how this works, since its hard to explain using words....:

//youtu.be/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4JhruinbWc&NR=1

thank u

its a long video.....but watch it complete...its interesting and informative....