The differential is a medium which transfers and handles engine torque to drive wheels. It authorize drive wheels to rotate at varied speed when cornering to prevent skiding. Bad differential symptoms may include tire damage, vibrations, fluid leaks, gear grinding and many more.
Front wheel drive vehicles have differential in the front and called as transaxle. In rear wheel drive vehicles the differential is in the back. Four wheel drive vehicles have differential in the front and back.
The differential operate with a gear set. It consists of a ring gear and a pinion gear. Its responsibiliy is to change the direction of the engine torque in order to turn the vehicle’s drive wheels as they should.
Bad Differential Symptoms
If your vehicle is indicating one or more of the below given common signs, you might be facing a bad differential.
1. Fluid Leaks
Fluid leaks are usually caused by worn seals. However there is a chance that a defective component in the differential setup is causing a seal to leak.
2. Unusual Noises
The differential setup includes many components such as ring and pinnion gears, sun gears, ring cage, cross pin, drive shaft and many other. A growling noise indicates an issue with ring and pinnion set. If there is a limited slip differential, clutch packs may produce a chattering noise.
3. Excessive Vibrations
Too much mechanical wear of differential gears, bearings, ring and pinnion occur due to bad, insufficient, contaminated or inappropriate lubrication. These worn out components loose proper contact. It results in exessive vibrations and whinning noises.
4. Tire Damage:
The main duty of a good differential is to spin tires at different rates while cornering. If it fails and gears grind, tires will spin at same rate. It leads to tires damage or uneven wear of tires.
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5. Overheating
Either you drag heavy objects like a container and caravan, or drive your vehicle at high speeds for long time, it puts extra pressure on the differential. This extra pressure leads to overheat and can breake down the parts of differential.
6. Burning Smell
Burning smell indicates overheating of differential gears. A dirty or finished lubricating oil is unable to lubricate properly. You may see reddish stain under the car which confirms failure of differential due to heating.
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How to Prevent From Bad Differential Symptoms?
We have discussed bad differential symptoms above. Now its mandatory to explain how you can prevent from these issues before time.
Avoid Driving in High Water
When water come in contact with differential lubricant, the blend causes rust on gear and bearings. It results in seizure of components specially U-joints. Vehicle vibrates and leads to ultimate failure of differntial.
Maintain Lubricant Level to Prevent From Bad Differential Symptoms
Differential housing has filler plug find and remove it. Check lubricant level with a tool or you can use finger. If found low levels immediate top up is mandatory. It must be included in your regular maintenance list.
Keep Away From Bad Driving Habits
Driving at high speed contantly for long intervals may overheat. Carrying heavy stuff all the time even when its not needed puts extra strain on the engine and differential. These habits lead to premature failure of differential.
Differential Seals Replacement
Visual inspection of differential clearly tells about any leakage. If found defective, must replace seals. It will not only prevent lubricant leakage but moisture entry into housing will also be stopped.
Mismatched Tires Lead to Bad Differential Symptoms
Variable tire sizes have difference in speed even you are going straight. It overburdens the differential and ruin it too soon. Always install manufacturer’s recommended tire size and all tires should be of same size.
