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!
You might be aware of standard maintenance for your car, like changing your oil and checking the air in the tyres, but don't forget about the differential. Many people get this checked during a routine tune-up by their mechanic, but it is still good to know about it in case you want to look for signs of differential issues to avoid more serious problems.
What Is the Differential?
The differential is something every vehicle has, even though you might not have realized it was there. It is the component that helps to control the speed of your wheels when making turns, helping the wheels to drive at different speeds to take turns tighter and faster. What happens is when you are turning a corner in your vehicle, the inside wheels don't take as long to take the turn as the outer wheels, so the speeds need to be different. This is done with the differential. It needs routine check-ups and maintenance just like other parts of your car.
How Do You Know Your Differential Needs Maintenance?
Aside from simply taking your vehicle in for a routine check-up, there are some signs that the differential might be having issues and needs some maintenance or repairs. The main issue that occurs with the differential is that the bearings on it become loose, which can lead to signs like a loud clunking sound or rumbling sound when you go a faster speed. You may also notice a whirring sound at higher speeds or feel the wheels 'skipping' when you are taking a turn.
What Is Needed to Maintain the Differential?
Unless you have mechanical experience, it is highly recommended that you take your vehicle to a mechanic to maintain or repair the differential. If you choose to do it yourself, you will need a number of special tools, including calipers, micrometers, a rubber mallet, socket wrenches and gear and bearing pullers. These are needed to access the differential, drain the fluid and replace it with new differential fluid and make any necessary repairs. You can find the differential inside a gear box located behind the drive wheels.
If you have been experiencing issues taking turns lately or you hear a lot of odd noises and have ruled out other causes, it might be that your differential is in need of maintenance or repairs. This is a good time to visit your mechanic to have it checked out.
Share17 April 2017
