Do I need to service my differential?
Most manufacturers recommend that the differential fluid be changed every 30,000 to 60,000 miles. It is a messy job, and should be done by a licensed mechanic.
What happens when you don’t have a front or rear differential?
The tires on the inside of the turn will make a circle with a smaller radius, which means it requires less revolutions of the tire to complete the turn. If vehicles were not equipped with front and rear differentials, the left and right tires would be forced to spin at the same speed despite these different paths.
How does a four wheel drive differential work?
From there, one driveshaft turns the front axle, and another turns the rear axle. When four-wheel drive is engaged, the transfer case locks the front driveshaft to the rear driveshaft, so each axle receives half of the torque coming from the engine. At the same time, the front hubs lock. The front and rear axles each have an open differential.
How much does it cost to repair a bad front differential?
If you catch it early, the fix could be as simple as a gear oil change. The average cost of repairing bad front differentials and rear differentials will depend on the severity of their condition. Generally speaking, it should not cost more than $400 to repair most rear or front differentials.
Which is the best service for differential oil?
The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Differential oil is contaminated Inspection. Once the problem has been diagnosed, you will be provided with an upfront quote for the recommended fix and receive $20.00 off as a credit towards the repair.
How much does it cost to service a differential?
To service your differential yourself all that is needed is a cover gasket which you can get from Amazon or the local parts store for about $5.00 (US) and two quarts of gear oil for about $9.00 (US) each. If a repair garage or dealer were to do this service for you it will cost between $90.00 and $140.00 depending on the manufacturer.
Can a vehicle have both front and rear differentials?
Every vehicle is fitted with either front or a rear differential, or both. Some vehicles such as 4-wheel drive SUVs are equipped with both front and rear differentials which allows the vehicle to turn in different directions while the 4-wheel drive is engaged.
The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Differential oil is contaminated Inspection. Once the problem has been diagnosed, you will be provided with an upfront quote for the recommended fix and receive $20.00 off as a credit towards the repair.
What’s the best way to service a gear differential?
Hold the rear cover in place start each of the cover bolts and tighten them by hand in a cross pattern. Once complete finish tightening the bolts to no more than 5 foot pounds of torque. You don’t want to over tighten these bolts because it will distort the cover and cause the gasket to split and leak. 6. Refill the Gear Oil