Function

• When a vehicle is traveling down the road, tires are distributed an equal amount of power, or torque. However, if one wheel begins to slip or lose traction (in mud or snow, for instance), the limited slip automatically redirects torque to the back wheel that has traction.
  
  

Benefits

• A limited slip rear end helps the driver maintain control when one tire begins to lose traction. A car without limited slip would continue to supply equal amounts of power to both back wheels, while a limited slip vehicle would transfer some power or torque away from the wheel that is losing traction. With its added torque, the tire that has traction should help provide the vehicle with more traction, rather than causing the vehicle to slip further out of control.
  
  

Fun Fact

• Limited slip differentials are operated by one of two systems: gear or clutch. General Motors coined the term positraction to refer to limited slip differential, and positraction (or positrac or posi) still applies to the limited slip differential system.