How do car brakes work? Won’t braking both wheels destroy the drive shaft and the differential?

Question

I believe differentials distribute power to the other wheel right? Where would the power go to if both wheels are braking?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Cars have torque converters (automatics) or clutches (manuals) that mean that the power from the engine is only mostly transmitted to the wheels. In a manual, the driver chooses when to use the clutch that disconnects the engine from the wheels. In an automatic the torque converter does it automatically.

Torque converters are kinda like two sets of fan blades pointed at each other, one has a motor and the other doesn’t. When one turns it starts to turn the other but if something keeps the other from turning it won’t (unless the first fan spins fast enough to make enough power to overcome whatever is keeping it from moving).