What is the difference between front and center differential

[Randytsi]

What is the difference between front and center differential in awd? I was looking the kaaz website and for a dsm awd it is a front differential and a center differential. Is the center differential the rear one?

 

[psychlow]

Okay... they're two different differentials (haha, pun not intended).

Both differentials are inside the AWD transmission case.

Your front axles slide into the front differential.

The output shaft that mates with the transfer case is powered by the center differential.

In the below picture, the two diffs on the right side are front diffs. The top is a stock front, the bottom is a Quaife upgraded unit.

The diff on the left side is the center diff.

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[keltalon]

so answer this one. if the center diff break will the car still go or not? one of mine broke and until i pull the tranny out i will have to guess at it. but the car pulls like it has a very bad clutch. slips like a mofo. before this happened i would constantly hear clicking from my right (driver side axle)?

 

[psychlow]

Yeah, usually if you break the spider gears and/or smoke the viscous coupling, you can still drive the car as FWD. The problem being, the spider gears might find their way into different parts of the transmission, ruining gears or trashing the front diff.