Do you know why the rear differential is important to your vehicle? Some people do, while others don’t. But what you need to understand is that, if your mechanic says that the damage is to the rear differential, expect that you need to have it repaired as soon as possible. And in this case, you need a trusted mechanic for differential repairs. But before doing that, you need to know what to do next with your trucks’ bad differential.
Understanding What The Rear Differential Is
For you to understand why rear differential repairs are crucial and can be costly, you should know exactly why this is important for your vehicle. The rear end differential connects to the transmission through the driveshaft. That means that the rear differential is the one responsible to change the direction of power.
With this system, it lets the engine transfer power to the rear wheel. This contains gears that will help the 90-degree change of direction on its rear axles. And the axle shafts in the rear differential connect to the wheels which are responsible for rotating to make the vehicle move forward.
Rear Differential Service – What To Expect?
When you bring your vehicle to your trusted mechanic for regular differential service, expect that he will remove the cover from the component. Then the old fluid will be removed from the differential cases. Then they will reseal the cover and replace the old with new, clean fluid. You have to remember that for most vehicles, owners will need to change the rear differential fluid every 20,000 to 40,000 miles. But that will of course vary depending on the type and brand of vehicle that you have. You can ask your mechanic about this, or better yet, check your owners’ manual to confirm what is your vehicles’ ideal service interval.
Does The Rear Differential Need Repair?
There are two major symptoms that you need to watch out for that will tell you that it is time to have the rear differential checked by a trusted mechanic. You have to be aware of the bad differential sounds. That is the rear differential noise as well as the rear or front differential leaks. When it comes to the sound, it may be similar to howling. Though noise is a common symptom, you also have to check for leaks.
Why Differential Maintenance is Important
Just like any other parts of your vehicle, you also need to make sure that your rear end differential is regularly maintained. One important thing to check when servicing the rear differential is the lubrication. The gears need to be covered in gear oil that will not only lubricate them but also the bearings. The gear oil will help these components cool and prevent them from overheating.
In time, the fluid will break down. The metal filings will come off from the bearings and the gears and end up in the fluid. It is important that you change the rear differential fluid from time to time. Other than that, you will also have to change the gear oil to avoid the interior gears, like the pinion and ring gears, from getting damaged.
