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.
What can a bad differential cause?
The resulting heat weakens gears and can cause component failure and transmission problems. A bad differential makes the car harder to control turning corners , and that can be dangerous. Faulty performance also causes extra wear and tear on tires. Replacing or rebuilding a failed differential can be expensive.
What are the symptoms of a bad differential?
- Tire Damages. If you notice strange damages on the sidewall and outer tread of your vehicle’s tires, it may be caused by failing differential components. ...
- Hard to Handle. ...
- Vibrations. ...
- Gears Grinding. ...
- Whining Sounds.
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.
What happens when you drive with a bad differential?
Here are the most common bad differential symptoms to look out for: Your vehicle is quickly going through oil. Difficulty steering . A loud front differential noise, such as the grinding of gears, clunking, or a “howling” sound.
How do you diagnose a bad front differential?
- Service Past Due. Like all components of your vehicle, your differential needs periodic service. ...
- Leaking Differential Oil. ...
- Strange Noises. ...
- Vibrations. ...
- Unusual Smells.
How much does it cost to repair a differential?
A typical rear differential repair costs anywhere between $200 and $400 . These typical repairs would include your bearing, seals, and fluid changes. Of course, when a gear change is required, that’s when things get pricey. $1,500 is just the minimum you can expect to pay for new gears.
What does a bad front differential sound like?
Whining noises are one of the most common and noticeable symptoms of a bad differential. ... Whenever their components are not being lubricated properly, you are likely to hear whining noises coming from the end of your car where the differential sits.
Can you drive with a broken front differential?
Just as the brakes, engine, and steering wheel are all a crucial part of your car, so is the front axle. ... Without the front axle, the wheels can’t move. So, when it is broken, it needs a front axle replacement for the car to be drivable again.
How long does it take to replace a differential?
A complete rear differential replacement includes replacing the housing, gears, bearings, and seals. The average time it takes a certified mechanic to perform a differential rebuild at a shop is usually three to five hours . A rebuild on a commercial vehicle by someone without prior experience could take much longer.
How much does it cost to replace a front 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.
Can you drive without differential fluid?
Generally speaking, your Car , just can’t run out of differential fluid . For that to happen you’ll have to go on driving for a long long time without any service of the vehicle ,which I’m sure no sensible motorist would do.
What kind of fluid goes in a front differential?
Every front or rear axle is filled with a special oil (also called differential fluid, or gear oil) that takes care of this. The differential fluid lubricates the gears, bearings and other internal parts, and provides cooling to these components as well.
What happens if you don’t change differential fluid?
Most differentials need a fluid change at about 50,000 miles. If left too long or if the fluid starts to run low, the differential will become noisy and can eventually fail. If that happens, the gears can seize , locking up the rear wheels and potentially causing a lot of damage or even an accident.
How often should I change diff fluid?
Generally speaking, differential fluid should be changed anywhere from every 30,000 miles to 60,000 miles . Your Chevrolet Owner’s manual should outline differential fluid changes in the recommended maintenance schedule.
