Average Differential Repair Cost
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.
Is it worth replacing a rear differential?
The truth is that
sometimes replacing your rear differential will end up costing more than your car is actually worth
. But that doesn’t mean you’re at a total loss. You can still junk a car with broken or faulty parts—and walk away with cash for it.
Can a rear differential be repaired?
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.
What causes a rear differential to go out?
The leading cause of a differential failing is due to
using the wrong lubricant type and specialty lubricants
. Water can also be a culprit to a differential failing as it can enter through the vent or seals. This often happens when driving in high water.
What does a rear differential problem sound like?
A whine during deceleration
may mean there is a bad or loose pinion bearing. A howl during acceleration may indicate the same problem. Rumble or whining sounds only at speeds greater than 20 mph could be a sign of a worn carrier bearing. The sound may change while cornering.
How do you service a rear differential?
How much does it cost to install a locking differential?
If you pay a shop to drop the third member, set up the diff and reassemble the axle, install the air lines and/or controls you should budget about a day’s work, so around
$800 to $1,000
, in labor.
How much does a limited slip differential cost?
A limited slip differential will not be a terribly costly upgrade to make on your vehicle if one is available. For those that upgrade to a limited slip diff, most spend somewhere in the range of
$600 and $1,200
to get this done, which is not a lot if you think about it.
Can you drive without rear differential?
Hence, the differential makes movement smart while driving a vehicle.
It is unsafe to drive a car without a differential
because the outer wheel would rotate too slowly, or the inner wheel would rotate too quickly, resulting in difficulty and unpredictable steering handling, damage to tires, etc.
How do you fix a noisy differential?
- Prep the area.
- Replace Differential Fluid.
- Replace the seal.
- Test the Vehicle.
- Inspect rear differential gasket, pinion seal, and side seal.
- Clean the housing.
- Replace broken parts.
- Lubricate and re-install axle into differential.
Can a bad rear 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
. A bad differential makes the car harder to control turning corners, and that can be dangerous.
How long should a rear differential last?
The lifespan of a differential depends on various factors, such as driving habits, level of maintenance, the type of oil used during servicing, and many more. Under regular use and proper maintenance, differentials should last
150,000 miles
or the life of a vehicle.
How much is a differential oil change?
Differential Fluid Change Cost
The fluid itself can cost between $30 and $80, and labor will run between $40 and $70. All together, you’re looking at somewhere in the range of
$70 to $150
to change your differential fluid depending on your vehicle, where you take it, and how much differential fluid it needs.
What does differential service include?
What is the differential service? Differential service with a mechanic or technician will include
draining the old fluid from the differentials and replace it with new fluid according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations and specifications
.
What happens if you never 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.
Is a locking differential worth it?
Why is Your Diff Lock So Important? The diff lock forces all wheels to spin at the same speed, regardless of traction. This is
helpful if you encounter difficult terrain and one or more wheels leave the ground, as full power remains on the other wheels ensuring you are still moving in the direction of travel
.
What is the benefit of a locking rear differential?
A locking rear differential, once engaged,
does not allow both wheels to spin freely
. By ensuring that both wheels spin at the same rate, and applying unequal torque to each tire on the axle, the risk of losing traction or spinning out decreases dramatically.
Can I add locking rear differential?
A drop-in locker is a differential retrofit that goes into your existing open carrier and turns it into an automatic locking differential
. These are generally the cheapest type of traction aid you can add (aside from a spool) to your axle, but they are sometimes not as strong as a complete replacement locker.
