Getting Your Differential Serviced
Your car or truck wouldnt be able to go far without the ability to turn. Lubricating fluid within the differential transfers heat away from gears extending its life and keeping you on the road. For any maintenance service including oil changes, brake flushes, or differential services, turn to Sun Auto Service! We are the experts for complete auto repair and maintenance. Our ASE Certified Technicians have specialized training in all aspects of auto care for all makes and models of cars and light trucks. We have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and its easy to see why. We guarantee our work in writing and only perform services you authorize. Why go to the dealer when Sun Auto Service is the number one alternative? Schedule an appointment for your next maintenance service and see what makes Sun Auto Service the best choice in automotive care.
What Does A Bad Differential Sound Like
Just as you pay attention to the oil change for the engine, the differential needs that same attention. The differential in your vehicle needs to be working properly for longevity of your vehicle and safety. Some indicators that your vehicles differential is having problems would be:
- Leaking Oil: If you see what appears to be oil dripping from under the vehicles at one of the axles, you need professional differential service immediately.
- Strange Noises: A differential that is going bad will often make loud rattling or whirring noises. If youre hearing these noises from under the car, see differential service.
- Vibrating: Of you notice an unusual vibration while driving, it could be differential and is worth taking it to your mechanic for a differential service check.
- Unusual Odor: As differential oil ages, it can start to smell like it is burning. When you smell burning oil, it is time to get a differential service.
What Is The Differential Service
Differential service with a mechanic or technician will include draining the old fluid from the differentials and replace it with new fluid according to the vehicle manufacturers recommendations and specifications.
The rear differential service is a little different in the fact that the mechanic or technician will perform a Differential service and fluid flush before putting in the new fluid. This is typically recommended to be done every 30,000 to 35,00 miles, and definitely before 50,000 miles. Many mechanics will suggest having the Differential service and tires rotated at the same time, making it easier to remember getting the differential service performed on a timely basis.
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A Little Boost Around The Bend
All differentials get you around a corner, but some do it better than others. A vehicle with torque vectoring sends a little more power to the outside wheel. This pushes the vehicle into the curve, and reduces understeer so the turn is tighter.
Some automakers provide an electronic torque-vectoring effect, using sensors to apply the brake on the inside wheel so the vehicle pivots around this slower-turning tire. In a true torque-vectoring system, the differential sends more power to the outside wheel. This improves handling but its also costlier, so its usually found primarily on pricier sports models.
Can I Change My Differential Fluid Myself
On most trucks and SUVs, performing a differential fluid change is an easy job, but on some vehicles, this maintenance item is a little trickier due to suspension components being in the way. If you own a vehicle that makes it easy, this DIY job will save you around $80 based on the average cost for a differential fluid change.
Most of the time, the cover needs to be removed for the fluid to be drained, and then you need to clean the surfaces on both the axle and the differential cover. Then apply a recommended sealer and then reinstall the cover. Some axles have a drain plug that can be removed in lieu of removing the cover.
To fill the differential, make sure youre using the proper oil viscosity for your differential and pump it into the axle until the fluid reaches the top of the fill hole and starts coming back out.
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Why Is A Locking Differential A Good Thing
While in general driving you want your wheels to be able to spin independently for comfortable turning, this can result in a loss of traction in some circumstances. If one wheel slips on ice, the differential may continue sending power to that wheel, causing it to spin, while the wheel that has not slipped may have less power.
Also if one wheel gets stuck, but the other is free then the differential might continue sending power to that wheel, making it spin wildly, while not really helping you get out of the mud.
With a locking differential , the powered wheels can be united. This allows drivers to have better traction, and can be extremely helpful either for getting out of mud and snow, climbing rocks on the trail, or maintaining traction in a snow storm.
While a driver shouldnt keep their differential locked in highway driving, it can be very useful when off-roading, or in some high-performance driving situations. Some vehicles that feature locking differentials include off-road models of the GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado, and the 2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1.
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What Is Differential Fluid Service
Just like the engine, transmission, and transfer case, the differential is filled with fluid to properly lubricate the gears, and after time, the fluid breaks down and loses its viscosity, which can lead to the axles internal gears being damaged. For this reason, the differential fluid must be changed regularly and at specific mileage intervals for proper maintenance.
Changing the differential fluid is an easy job that usually consists of removing the differential cover to drain the fluid, reinstalling the cover, and then refilling the differential. This service can also be referred to as the drive axle assembly drain and refill.
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Difference Between Transfer Case & Differential
Transfer cases allow power to be distributed to both the front and rear wheels and are only found in 4×4 and AWD vehicles. The transfer case gets power directly from the transmission and delivers it to the rear wheels or in some vehicles it delivers power to both the front and rear wheels. Distributing power to the differentials is a huge task and takes meticulous maintenance and servicing to ensure no fatal flaws when you are out on the road. Transfer cases in AWD cars are typically automatically controlling all 4 wheels and usually have a button that will lock all 4 wheels for situations when you are moving slow and need more traction, like snow or mud. 4×4 vehicles typically have either manual transfer case selection, shifter, or electrical selection button or switch. These selectors allow the vehicle to be driven primarily in 2WD, with the option for 4×4 high and low gears depending on the application.
Caring For The Differential
Regular maintenance on any vehicle is a necessity from oil changes, belts, hoses, and other fluids. The differential fluid is no exception. Differential oil is used to lubricate manual transmissions and differentials. Its similar to the importance of engine oil for the engine. It plays a vital role in protecting the differential and transmission, allowing them to function safely and smoothly.
The spent differential fluid becomes dirty and contaminated after time. Continuing to drive with contaminated fluid is risky as it can put unnecessary wear on components, leading to permanent damage. Signs your differential needs service:
- Whirring noise only when decelerating.
- A howl or whine during acceleration over small or large speeds.
- Rumbling or whirring at speeds over 20 MPH but changes while turning.
- Regular clunking sound every few feet or when starting to move.
- Steady vibration that increases with vehicle speed.
Plan to have your differential fluid is also known as gear oil, or oil in the transaxles changed every 30,000 miles not to exceed 60,000 miles by a trained technician. Clean, fresh oil allows for better protection of the differential leading to a safer ride. As with any component of the vehicle, well-lubricated parts equal optimal performance.
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Why You Should Keep An Eye On Your Front Differential
The front differential is a critical component of the drivetrain. When this goes bad, serious problems can occur. It can also be expensive to repair, and its not a repair even car enthusiasts should take on themselves.
This requires professional assistance. Pay attention to your front differential, noticing any leaks or strange sounds that might indicate a problem.
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Is Differential Service Necessary
Yes! The differential uses oil, thicker than the oil that goes in the engine. Changing the oil in the differential is as important as the engine oil change because over time, the oil wears thin and becomes contaminated. Like the engine, without the oil, the differential will start having metal-to-metal contacting that will wear the differential out.
The differentials on most vehicle should be changed at about 50,000 miles. However, that can vary based on the mileage of the vehicle and the travel conditions, like dirt roads, your vehicle may need differential service more frequent.
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Youre Going Through Too Much Oil
You may notice oil leaking or that youve gone through your oil life cycle too quickly. This means your differential isnt receiving the lubrication it needs to function correctly. The oil protects the mechanism from overheating and helps it run smoothly.
With a loss of oil also comes a whining or howling noise from the front of the car. Dont ignore these warning signs. Serious damage could occur, so get your vehicle checked out.
What Is A Differential On A Car Or Truck
A differential, when one is talking about vehicles, is a mechanical piece of the car, truck, or SUV which allows the powered-wheels to turn at different speeds. This would be the front wheels in front-wheel-drive, the rear in rear-wheel drive, and all wheels on all-wheel drive. This is necessary because when taking turns the wheels need to go different distances, and if they both always moved at the same speed you would end up damaging your tires and possibly other mechanical parts.
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Signs Something Is Wrong
If your differential isnt working properly, you may notice several things before it fails altogether. Noticeable tire damage on the sidewall or outer tread of a tire could mean a bad differential. If your car becomes difficult to handle and doesnt easily steer around corners, thats another sign that the differential needs to be replaced. The sound of grinding gears or a whining noise are also indicators that you should have your differential checked.
Every car has some kind of differential in order to handle corners with ease. Understanding what a rear differential is and whether or not your vehicle has one isnt complicated the only ones that dont have some kind are those with front-wheel drive. And clues like tire damage, handling, or sounds will let you know when you need to have it looked at.
Check out all the differential parts available on NAPA Online, or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. For more information about how a rear differential works, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store.
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The 3 Types Of Differentials
Open Differential is the oldest and most common design that is suitable for various makes and models of vehicles. Its the most simple, reliable, and widely-used type of differential. The powered pinion gear, located at the end of the driveshaft, engages with the ring gear, which then transmits power to both axles through another set of gears. The only flaw in its design is that when one wheel begins to slip, all power is in essence sent to the wheel with the least traction, making this setup unfit for rock climbing or high-speed racing.
Limited-Slip is similar to an Open Differential but utilizes an integrated clutch system. The clutch mechanism locks the left and right sides of the axle together when a wheel loses traction. This is the preferred system for high-performance vehicles such as drag racers and those towing heavy loads.
Torque-Vectoring is the latest and greatest in differential technology. Torque vectoring encompasses a complicated collection of sensors and electronics to obtain data from the steering system, throttle position, road surface, and more, giving it the ability to distribute power to each wheel, according to the data. This option provides maximum traction while cornering, increasing performance significantly.
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Does An Electric Vehicle Have A Differential
Yes. Most electric vehicles use either a single- or dual-motor setup. The torque still needs to be distributed between the wheels, so a differential is required. Tesla uses open differentials on its cars, for example. On some next-generation cars, the electric motor will form part of the wheels assembly, which means a car can have either front, rear, or all-wheel-drive without any mechanical linkages.
What Happens When My Differential Fails
If your differential begins to or completely fails, dont worry! You do have options. First, you could bring it to a shop, have them repair or replace the differential. This would be the most expensive option, it really does depend on if they are repairing or replacing it. Differential repairs can be costly when things like gears need to be replaced but may not be as harsh when it is something like seals that need to be replaced. Either way, the labor will cost a pretty penny alone. On the other hand, they may replace the entire differential completely and this is another item on the bill they can upcharge. This is because they usually buy parts for a cheaper price and then mark them up on your bill. Why? Because they can!
Depending on what is wrong with the differential you can try to fix it yourself or do a differential rebuild, which is your second option. This can be as simple as needing a differential fluid change and as complicated as needing new gears. Even if you do fix the seals and replace the gears, this takes a lot of time and this is not a guarantee that it wont begin to fail again later on down the line.
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Youre Hearing Grinding Noises
When the differential goes bad, you may start to hear the gears grinding. Again, dont ignore this! It could be very costly if you dont address this quickly. When you accelerate, the grinding noise will get louder and louder.
This relates to the symptom mentioned above of losing oil. Check your maintenance records to see if youre going through too much oil.
What Is A Locked Differential
The locked, or locking differential, is a variant found on vehicles that primarily go off-road. A locking differential is almost identical to an open differential in design and function. It still distributes the engine torque between the two wheels equally like an open differential.
The main difference is that locking differentials can lock in place to create a fixed axle instead of an independent one. Both wheels can be driven at the same speed regardless of whether or not one wheel loses traction. This means both wheels have to be stuck in the mud or ice for you to be truly stuck. However, it also means that jamming a branch under one wheel can often get you unstuck.
Locking Differential Advantages:
- A locked differential can gain a greater amount of traction than an open differential
Locked Differential Disadvantages:
- Binding can occur when excess torque is built up within the drive train and needs releasing this happens when the wheels are moving at different speeds and twists the axles
- It can be very difficult to drive on high grip surfaces because both driven wheels turn at the same speed
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What Is A Differential
The differential is a device that splits the engine torque two ways, allowing each output to spin at a different speed.
The differential is found on all modern cars and trucks, and also in many all-wheel-drive vehicles. These all-wheel-drive vehicles need a differential between each set of drive wheels, and they need one between the front and the back wheels as well, because the front wheels travel a different distance through a turn than the rear wheels.
Part-time four-wheel-drive systems don’t have a differential between the front and rear wheels instead, they are locked together so that the front and rear wheels have to turn at the same average speed. This is why these vehicles are hard to turn on concrete when the four-wheel-drive system is engaged.
What Is An Open Differential
The oldest and most common design is the open differential, as it’s simple and reliable.
The powered pinion gear, found at the end of the driveshaft, engages with the ring gear, which transfers power to both axles through another set of gears. The open differential splits the engine torque into two outputs, allowing the wheels to rotate at different speeds.
This set-up is perfectly suited to most production cars. The only weakness is that when only one wheel begins to slip, all power is essentially sent to the wheel with the least traction. This makes the open diff not ideal for off-road driving or high-speed racing.
Open Differential Advantages:
- Its basic design means it’s relatively cheap to produce and purchase
Open Differential Disadvantages:
- If one tyre loses traction, the opposing tyre will also lose its power for this reason, open differentials are unsuited for performance vehicles or uneven surfaces
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