Differential Service
Differential Service at Stanley Ford Eastland
Your car is made up of multiple systems with many components that work together to allow your vehicle to function correctly every time you drive. Maintaining these systems and components is the key to extending the life of your vehicle and keeping you safe on the road. One system that helps keep your vehicle running smoothly is the differential. If you live in or around Ranger, Abilene, or Comanche, you can bring your vehicle into Stanley Ford Eastland for differential service to ensure your vehicle continues to function well.
The differential is a set of gears that allows your wheels to spin at independent speeds, and to be independently powered by the engine through your vehicle’s drivetrain. Maintaining this component helps keep your car, truck, or SUV functioning well and riding smoothly.
Differential Service at Stanley Ford Eastland
When your vehicle turns left, the interior-facing wheels on the left side turn slower than the exterior-facing wheels on the right side. This is because the exterior-facing wheels have to travel farther to get your vehicle around the corner. To function properly, the wheels of your vehicle need to have independent revolutions and different speeds to avoid slippage and to keep constant power to the wheels around corners.
Differentials for the Front and Rear
Your vehicle may have two differentials, depending on how the wheels are powered. If your drivetrain is a rear-wheel drive, your engine sends power to the rear wheels to be able to move the vehicle. You would only have one differential, located on the rear axle of the vehicle. If your vehicle is a four-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive, your vehicle is built in such a way that allows the engine to send power to all four wheels. This means you will have both a front and a rear wheel differential. If your vehicle is front-wheel drive, you will most likely have a transaxle. The transaxle functions as both the differential and the transmission while rear-wheel drive vehicles just have a rear differential in the rear of the vehicle.
The Importance of Differential Fluid
Your differentials are loaded with bearings and interlacing gears. The gears in the differential rely on a lubricant and each other to enable the differential to keep transferring power seamlessly. The fluid in the differential, not surprisingly, is called Differential Fluid. Rear differential, front differential, and (LSD) or Limited Slip Differentials all require a gear oil to lubricate the gears, so the drive components stay cool.
In general, a differential service should be performed according to the manufacturer's recommendation in your owner’s manual. These intervals will differ from model to model.
How Do I Know If My Differential Needs Servicing?
If the differential fluid is thin or if a bearing is loose, you will hear and feel metal on metal grinding and you may experience one of these other symptoms:
- Whirring sounds when decelerating or exceeding 15 mph.
- Rumbling noises when the vehicle is traveling over 15 mph.
- Persistent clunking noises.
- High-pitched howling noises when accelerating.
- Skipping or banging when cornering.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, or if you have never had differential service, contact us at Stanley Ford Eastland to set up an appointment or schedule your service with our online form.