How do I know if my rear differential bearings are bad?
The classic sounds of a bad wheel bearing are cyclic chirping, squealing and/or growling noise. You can also tell that the sound is related to wheel bearings if it changes in proportion to vehicle speed. The sound can get worse with every turn, or it can disappear momentarily.
What happens when the rear differential is bad?
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.
What causes rear differential damage?
The first and most common is loss of differential oil which can cause gears inside the differential housing to break, grind, or even block the rear wheels. However, differentials can fail if they are pushed too hard which means that you have performed numerous burnouts, drag racing, and so on.
How long can I drive with a bad pinion bearing?
It’s 100% ok until it’s not. Unfortunately there is no telling how long it will last. Could be ten days or ten years.
What supports the pinion gear in the differential housing?
The pinion gear is supported by two bearings, at for and aft, that are mounted in the differential housing. The bearings are set to a specific preload when the differential is assembled. The depth in which the pinion gear protrudes into the differential housing is also preset when the differential is assembled.
How do you replace front pinion seal?
Slide the pinion yoke off the pinion shaft and set it aside. Using a small flat screwdriver, bend the outer metal ring of the seal to help loosen it then pry it out of the bore. Pack the cavity behind the seal with lithium grease then install the new seal into the bore.
What is a pinion gear bearing?
A Pinion Bearing is the bearing on the Pinion shaft holding it into the Differential Case, (Pumpkin). Now the Pinion Gear on the Pinion Input Shaft can be shimmed at or near the Pinion Bearing, to make it fit better, or Mesh into the Ring Gear, transferring power to the internal Cluster,…
What is differential rebuild?
Differential Rebuilding. When a differential fails or has been damaged, fixing it requires taking the differential apart and replacing the broken or damaged gears, as well as any other components that may have suffered damage from the failed components.