Bad Differential Symptoms and Repair Cost Estimation
A differential is crucial in maintaining the correct spinning speed of each wheel. To make smooth turns around corners, a vehicle’s inner wheels need to spin faster than the outer pair. The front and rear differentials help the wheels to rotate at different speeds. Otherwise, a vehicle would pull to one side when turning, creating a risk of accidents. It’s important to be aware of bad differential symptoms to ensure your safety on the road.
A malfunctioning front or rear differential cannot regulate the speed of the wheels when turning, putting a strain on the axle and several other components. Let’s discuss the signs of a failing differential so you can catch them at the right time and do the repair.
Bad Front and Rear Differential Symptoms
When the front or rear differential in a vehicle starts wearing out, it will start showing some symptoms. Watch out for these most common signs:
Whining Noises
These weird sounds are one of the most common symptoms of a bad front differential. The sounds are so clear and loud that no one can miss them. The noises are the result of inadequate lubrication of the differential components.
The gears whine or roar at the time of turning due to a low level or extremely dirty differential oil. Fluid leaking could be another potential cause. The noises become louder when the car accelerates.
Not changing the differential oil at scheduled intervals may lead to this problem. Old oil never provides the same level of lubrication as fresh new oil and may accelerate the rate of deterioration of the components. So, always follow the maintenance schedule of an oil change for every system in the vehicle.
Burning Smell
Driving with bad front differential may lead to getting a burning smell from the gearbox or differential. A reddish stain under the car could accompany the smell. A potential reason could be oil leaking from any of the seal in the system.
The smell could indicate poor lubrication too, so changing the oil could solve this issue. Most people forget replacing the oil because it does not need changing as frequently as the fluids in other systems. But whenever you face a differential problem, oil changing could be the possible solution.
Untimely Tire Wear
How to tell if rear differential is bad? Look at the tires. A bad differential means the wheels will travel at the same speed when turning a corner. It leads to premature inner tires wear because they will be rotating faster than their threads are designed to sustain.
A pair of new tires will cost somewhere between $100 and $300, but high-end off-road tires can cost as high as $1,000. So, examine the differential upon catching the slightest tire wearing signs.
Drive Shaft Vibrations
Another early sign of bad differential symptoms are vibrations in the drive shaft. A shuddering driveshaft is the telltale sign of bad rear differential symptoms.
These vibrations are the result of excessive wear and tear in the universal joints. Just like the whining noises, the trembling increases with speeding the vehicle up. A differential fluid leak will worsen this problem.
Many drivers may not pay attention to this problem because a vehicle can vibrate for various reasons. But taking early action may save your differential from failing completely.
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Difficulty in Handling the Vehicle
As you know, differentials help with keeping the vehicle steady during turning a corner by regulating the speed of the wheels. So, when this system goes bad, the wheels cannot readjust the speeds and you will find it harder to handle the vehicle around a corner.
This is outright dangerous since not having complete control over the vehicle when turning around a corner can lead to swerving off the road. If you want to avoid an accident, consult a mechanic after detecting the signs of difficult handling.
Gear Grinding
Apart from whining noises, buzzing or whirring noises are other bad front differential symptoms. The sounds are the aftereffect of worn-out differential components. How can you be sure? Well, it will increase when you press on the gas pedal to speed up the vehicle.
Rear and Front Differential Repair Cost
When you detect any of these bad differential symptoms, you should take the vehicle to a mechanic immediately. How much is the repair work?
Well, the total expenses depend on the condition of the differential components. Unless the whole system is malfunctioning, expect to pay something between $200 and $300, and it’s unlikely to cross $400 despite including the services of oil seal replacement and backlash adjustment. The expenses could reach $1,000 if you need to rebuild the differential. But replacing the whole differential will skyrocket the costs to up to $2,000.
