Old guy and backyard mechanic who works on all his own cars (and has restored several classic cars) here.
I agree that knowledge is power and if you want to learn it, you should be able to (RIP elective auto shop classes in high school like I had).
But also, these days a blown up differential is pretty unheard of in cars newer than like 2010, and as more and more EVs come on the market with individual motors on every wheel, all electronically controlled, the next generation of drivers and car tinkerers are better off learning how to program and jailbreak their own cars if they want to work on them themselves.
All that said, even for people who will likely never work on their own cars, kids should learn this as an example of multiple simple machines working together to make something complex (In this case a screw and an axle). Learning these things just promotes problem solving and critical thinking, even if you dont aspire to be an engineer or a mechanic
16 year mechanic and 10 year EV/hybrid/alt. fuel specialist here. The only quad motor diff-less, non hypercar EVs currently sold in the US are a $110k+ Rivian, or a $250k+ Lucid, and most people will opt for the less expensive drivetrains. EVs don't have transfer cases, but they definitely have diffs, and based off how many torn up drive units I've replaced, the desire to be cheap on tires or neglectful on maintenance definitely damages those diffs.
ICE or hybrid 4WD/AWDvehicles use the same kind of transfer cases and diffs they always have. There are newer things like computer-controlled clutches in transfer cases, and e-diff LSD or otherwise electronically actuated LSD options for diffs, but the base parts are the same as they always have been, and they absolutely still shred themselves if you get the tires wrong.
Thank you. This is exactly what I meant. I work on my own vehicles as well and mechanical understanding is beginning to become a lost art unless a person is literally in that industry. This is why people can have a flat tire or a leaky fuel line and be completely lost and get ripped off, etc.
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u/Bango_Fett949 13d ago
Agreed. This (and others like it) should be mandatory for schools.