Engineering Question

[wireflight]

Especially under strong acceleration, when a rear axle assembly breaks (CV joint on one side, etc.), RWD race cars often turn sharply towards the broken component; for instance, if a right inboard CV joint breaks, the car will turn violently to the right. This doesn't seem to be a problem with "peg leg" cars (those having an "open" rear differential, even though such a car doesn't apply its power to both rear tires. What is the difference/what accounts for this?

 

[NateDogg]

well when the joint breaks, there is peices crating lots of drag internally. The open diffs, "peg leg" I believe work in a way which power is applied to both wheels under normal conditions, as soon as one starts to slips, all power is trasnfered to that wheel.