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The leading cause of a differential failing is due to using the wrong lubricant type and specialty lubricants. When water enters it will emulsify the differential lubricant and result in rusting on gear and bearing surfaces. Seized U-joints that result in vibration can cause differential failure as well.
How does a differential get damaged?
The most common cause of a bad differential is lack of oil, which could result in grinding at high speed, cause the carrier to break, or in most cases, block the rear wheels. It often happens when you have a worn-out differential seal or a cracked housing which could cause oil leaks.
What are the symptoms of a bad differential?
Here are the most common bad differential symptoms to look out for: Your vehicle is quickly going through oil. Difficulty steering. A loud front differential noise, such as the grinding of gears, clunking, or a “howling” sound. Rear differential noises. Extensive and inexplicable wear and tear on your tires.
How long does a differential last?
A rear differential service consists of removing the rear differential cover, cleaning any old fluid from inside the differential case, resealing the cover, and adding clean fluid. After a rear differential fluid change, most vehicles will go 20,000 to 40,000 miles before it’s due again.
What happens when your differential goes bad?
When the differential oil goes bad, it will start to thicken and burn. In turn, it can cause the internal gears and other components to seize up or break. If you ever notice a strong burning oil smell, take it to your mechanic.
How much does it cost to fix a differential?
Most differential repairs will cost between $200 and $400 to repair. Of course, this depends on the severity of the defect and what parts need to be replaced. For a rebuilt differential, you might need to spend between $400 and $1,000. On the other hand, replacing a differential costs $1,000 to $2,000 on average.
How do you diagnose differential problems?
This is why it is important to pay attention to signs of differential trouble, including the following. Tire Damages. If you notice strange damages on the sidewall and outer tread of your vehicle’s tires, it may be caused by failing differential components. Hard to Handle. Vibrations. Gears Grinding. Whining Sounds.
How long does it take to replace a rear differential?
A complete rear differential replacement includes replacing the housing, gears, bearings, and seals. The average time it takes a certified mechanic to perform a differential rebuild at a shop is usually three to five hours. A rebuild on a commercial vehicle by someone without prior experience could take much longer.
Is the differential part of the transmission?
A differential is part of the front and/or rear axle assembly. The differential fluid or oil in transaxles and axles should be changed as part of a preventive maintenance schedule. It’s part of your transmission service. Some four wheel drive vehicles require changing the axle oil every 30k miles.
Does the differential affect the transmission?
When the differential doesn’t perform well, it creates metal-on-metal friction that wears down surfaces. The resulting heat weakens gears and can cause component failure and transmission problems.
What causes rear differential failure?
The leading cause of a differential failing is due to using the wrong lubricant type and specialty lubricants. Water can also be a culprit to a differential failing as it can enter through the vent or seals. Seized U-joints that result in vibration can cause differential failure as well.
Can a rear differential be repaired?
A typical rear differential repair costs anywhere between $200 and $400. These typical repairs would include your bearing, seals, and fluid changes. Of course, when a gear change is required, that’s when things get pricey.
Does changing differential oil make a difference?
In most cases, you will need to change differential fluid every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. It’s important to stay on top of changing differential fluid because metal-on-metal contact creates heat from friction. It also weakens gears and wears down surfaces. That can lead to differential failure, which is a costly problem.
How do you fix a noisy differential?
How to Quiet Differential Whine Prep the area. Replace Differential Fluid. Replace the seal. Test the Vehicle. Inspect rear differential gasket, pinion seal, and side seal. Clean the housing. Replace broken parts. Lubricate and re-install axle into differential.
What does a rear differential problem sound like?
The most common rear differential noise is a whirring sound, although it’s not unheard of to have a clunking or banging sound as you accelerate. If you do hear a whirring noise, it’s going to remind you of what a worn-out wheel bearing sounds like.
How much does rear differential service cost?
When that happens, it may be time to change it out. You’ll only pay somewhere between $80 and $140 for differential fluid change. The labor should be between $50 and $70, while parts can cost anywhere from $30 to $70.
Is rear differential service necessary?
Most differentials need a fluid change at about 50,000 miles. If left too long or if the fluid starts to run low, the differential will become noisy and can eventually fail. If that happens, the gears can seize, locking up the rear wheels and potentially causing a lot of damage or even an accident.
How do I know if my differential fluid is low?
What are the Symptoms of Bad Differential/Gear Oil? Burning Smell from the Differential. When you notice a bad smell coming from your gearbox, you should take it as a sign of bad differential oil which can be contaminated hence not operating as it should be. Weird Noises. Vibrations.
Where is the differential located?
Where is the differential located? Explanation: The differential used to incorporate the speed of the rear wheels and front wheels during turning. It is located between the transmission and rear axle.
