A differential in its most basic form comprises two halves of an axle with a gear on each end, connected together by a third gear making up three sides of a square This is usually supplemented by a fourth gear for added strength, completing the square
How do you identify a differential?
Visual Differential Identification Without an ID tag, differentials are identified by the number of cover bolts, the distinctive shape of the cover, the number of ring gear bolts, and ring gear diameter They can also be identified by whether the center section is an integral or dropout design
What does a bad differential look like?
Here are the most common bad differential symptoms to look out for: A loud front differential noise, such as the grinding of gears, clunking, or a “howling” sound Rear differential noises This would be caused by gears that are out of place or lack of lubrication
Where is a differential located?
The differential sits between the wheels, where the drive shaft connects with the axle Depending on whether your vehicle is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, the differential is on the front, rear or both axles
How do you know if you have a bad differential?
One of the most obvious signs is a loud whirring noise that takes place when your vehicle is decelerating You also may hear a howl or a whine when you are accelerating This can be symptomatic of a bad differential
What kind of rear differential do I have?
The easiest way to tell if you have an open differential is to jack up the car and spin one of the rear tires If the other wheel spins in the opposite direction, you have an open differential If it spins in the same direction, you have a limited slip differential, or LSD
What are the different types of differential?
There are four common differentials used between vehicles – open, locking, limited-slip and torque-vectoring
How much does it cost to fix a differential?
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 kind of noise does a bad differential make?
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
What happens if your differential goes out?
Typically, the differential will start giving strange noises when it goes out, or when the bearing fails You will hear a whirring noise, whining noise, a growling noise, or howling noise The noise will increase or decrease as you accelerate or decelerate the vehicle
Do all cars have a differential?
Every car is different The differential is a component in all cars and is designed to compensate for the difference in distance the inner wheels and outer wheels travel as the car goes around a corner
Is differential same as transmission?
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 front-wheel-drive (FWD), the differential is alongside the transmission inside a housing, and the unit is called a transaxle
Is rear differential part of 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
Can you drive with a bad rear differential?
Technically, you can drive with a bad differential, but it is not wise The problem may get worse, to the point where it leaves you stranded somewhere It can also cause damage to other surrounding components It is smartest and safest not to drive with a bad differential
Can a bad 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 Faulty performance also causes extra wear and tear on tires
Can a bad differential cause power loss?
Depending on the vehicle and the issue the rear differential has, what happens when the rear differential goes out while driving varies in severity If you have broken gear teeth or badly chipped teeth then you will experience a soft of “skip” in power or vibration that increases with speed
How do you determine differential size?
Measure the ring gear diameter The ring gear is the largest gear inside the differential housing and normally faces the driver’s-side rear wheel Using a tape measure or machinist’s ruler, measure the ring gear diameter This identifies the differential — a Ford 9-inch or GM 75-inch — for example
How do I identify my GM differential?
Information about Differentials in GM vehicles can usually be obtained by looking at the RPO or “Regular Production Option” codes contained in the Service Parts Identification tag in the glovebox Whenever possible, reference the tag numbers when ordering parts for your Differential
What is the most common type of differential?
Different types An open differential (OD) is the most common type A limited slip differential (LSD) overcomes this problem A locking differential (locker) is able to lock the two drive wheels on an axle together A spool is an open differential in which the axles have been mechanically fastened together
What does a differential do when a car is cornering?
For example, when your vehicle goes around a corner, the wheel on the outside must travel faster than the wheel on the inside The differential distributes equal amounts of torque to both wheels This permits the wheels to react to resistance, or provide traction, to give the wheel more resistance to rotate less
Do front wheel drive cars have a differential?
In front wheel drive vehicles the differential is in the front and called a transaxle In rear-wheel drive vehicles, the differential is in the back Four wheel drive vehicles have differentials in both the front and back The differential contains fluid that lubricates and cools the gears