Hello and welcome! My name is Fareed, and this blog is about car repair. I plan to write about smash repair, body work, painting and other aspects of the industry. I also hope to include a few posts that will help you assess whether or not something is wrong with your car. I have worked on my own car for years, and recently, I've been embraced as the neighbourhood mechanic -- all my friends come to me for help. I'm not a professional mechanic, but I feel confident sharing this info with you as I've been working on cars for years. I am happy you found my blog and hope that you enjoy reading!
The differential system is an integral component of your car that enables the wheels to rotate at varying speeds for traction and stability on the road. Differential systems are often tucked out of sight at the front, rear, or both sides of your car depending on the type of vehicle you have. The differential system or diff, is usually designed to operate flawlessly and for this reason, many car owners tend to ignore or neglect issues concerning it.
Differential systems may start developing problems, especially as your car ages. When this happens, knowing some of the signs that your car's differential system is faulty can save you from costly repairs down the line. For this reason, here are some of the signs and symptoms to watch out for.
Unusual Sounds
A typical properly functioning differential system has to operate quietly. Therefore, when the system starts failing, unusual sounds or noises are the major indicators to watch out for. Grinding and whining noises are among the common differential problem symptoms you will notice. Usually, the noises increase in intensity when you accelerate. Grinding and whining sounds are often a result of three major gear issues: alignment issues (the gears are at out of alignment), under-lubrication of the gears, and worn out gears.
Clicking sounds are also common with diff problems. These noises tend to occur after every few metres. If a high spot on your gear tooth is damaged or missing, you will hear these noises. Sometimes the clicking sounds could be of a higher frequency and this is usually the case when the pinion itself has a problem.
Last, you may hear clunking sounds especially when making turns. Under-lubrication could also be the culprit here. However, in most cases, broken and worn out spider gears are the major cause. If the clunking or banging is heard at any other time besides when making turns, your ring gear is probably broken.
Vibrations
If you feel vibrations in the body of your car or through the floor, especially when driving at high speed, your diff probably needs attention. The vibrations usually originate from the universal joints. Universal joints connect your vehicle's transmission to the differential.
When the joints are worn, driving at high speed will trigger vibrations that will travel along your vehicle's drive shaft to other parts such as the engine block. The joints are often equipped with seals. For these seals to work efficiently, they have to be lubricated. Cracks in the seals will cause the lubricant to leak and this can result in vibrations. To learn more, contact a differential repair service.
Share4 April 2017
