What should I do if my rear differential is making noises?
Check with your manufacturer to find out which oil you should use in the differential. If you can’t find any noises or any metal pieces in the differential – it might actually be a bad wheel bearing instead of a bad rear differential. The process of diagnosing this can both be simple or advanced – depending on the problem.
Why does my car make a grinding noise when I stop?
If braking at a low speed, under 25-30 MPH, causes the grinding noise to aggravate progressively until it comes to a stop, then you may have to change the front brake pads. One of them may have worn-out completely to the backing. You may also have to replace the rotor since it could have caused serious wear on the mating surface.
Is it dangerous to drive with a damaged rear differential?
But the problem is that driving with a worn or damaged rear differential can be extremely dangerous. That’s because as more teeth break and more gears wear out, the more everything is going to slip and “chatter” as you’re driving.
What kind of noise does a bad wheel bearing make?
Mike, Bad wheel bearings are usually associated with humming noises, not grinding sounds. Grinding noises usually have more to do with brake problems rather than wheel bearings. Try reading our article about brake noise to see if that is the problem you are having.
Why does my car make noise when I go over 60 mph?
Sometimes you may be driving at 60 MPH and hear the noise, but then accelerate to 65 MPH and the noise goes away. This may happen only if there is a small amount of damage to the bearing. Therefore, you may not be able to notice this right away. You will only be able to tell by feeling for any excess play like mentioned above.
Why does my rear wheel drive car make a howling noise?
If your rear-wheel-drive car or truck is making a howling sound that seems to be coming from out back, this can be a symptom of a problem with the differential. A variety of noises can be produced by one of these components in different driving situations, from acceleration to deceleration to steady-state motoring.
What does it mean when your differential is making a noise?
While there is no help for our singing, we can help you diagnose the sounds coming from a differential gone bad. A clunk, whine, or howl can signal a worn-out pinion gear, bad bearings, or a faulty gear installation. Sometimes, the noise is not differential-related, but is caused by other driveline or axle components.