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The differential is a set of gears that transmits engine power to the wheels, while allowing them to turn at different speeds on turns. With rear-wheel-drive (RWD), the differential is between the rear wheels, connected to the transmission by a driveshaft.
What are the symptoms of a bad rear differential?
Symptoms Of A Bad Rear Differential Vibrations. A bad differential can cause vibrations that increase in intensity as you speed up and reduce as you slow down. Grinding Gears. Grinding gears is another significant sign that your differential is failing and that the gears are wearing themselves out. Whining Noises.
What happens when a rear differential fails?
When a rear differential fails, it can cause vibration, noise and fluid leaks that impact a vehicle’s acceleration and driveability. A driver should consult a certified mechanic to deal with a bad rear differential and prevent further damage to the vehicle’s driving systems.
Can you drive with a bad rear differential?
You can still drive your vehicle with a bad rear differential, but it can cause severe damages. The problem may increase to the point of stopping you in the middle of nowhere. And, if you are asking about driving with a total broken differential, no, don’t do it unless you want to damage the entire drivetrain system.
What is the purpose of a rear differential?
What Does a Rear Differential Do? A driveshaft connects the rear differential mechanism to the transmission or transfer case, transferring the engine’s power to the rear wheels. The rear differential’s role is simple: change the power’s direction from longitudinal (along the car) and direct it to the wheels.
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.
What does a bad diff sound like?
The most common sound of a failed differential is a whining noise. This is often due to poor lubrication within the differential, meaning there is a good chance that the differential fluid is leaking. If you spot a reddish fluid under the differential, there is certainly a leak.
Can rear differential cause transmission problems?
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.
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.
How much should rear differential service cost?
Average Differential Repair Cost These are light repair jobs that will cost between $200 to $400, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. But if you have more extensive damage to your differential that requires it to be dismantled or overhauled, then you are looking at about $400 to $800 in repair costs.
What causes differential to go bad?
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 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.
How do you diagnose 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.
Is rear diff-lock good for snow?
You should only be locking the differential if you need to. That said, lockers can be great to use for snow because of how built-up snow can lead to lost traction in a single tire. Locking your differential can help maintain power to each wheel evenly, allowing the tire with traction to keep moving you forward.
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.
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.
What is the purpose of a differential in a vehicle?
A differential works with the transmission to deliver power from the engine to the axle that turns the wheels. It also helps your vehicle turn properly. In order for your vehicle to turn, the outside wheels must turn faster than the inside wheels.
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.
How long can you drive with a noisy differential?
To reiterate, in terms of how long can I drive with pinion bearing noise — it can be ten days or ten years. This will highly depend on the condition of the bearing. If it is worse, get it replaced as soon as possible.
