What causes a rear differential to break?

The leading cause of a differential failing is due to using the wrong lubricant type and specialty lubricants. When water enters it will emulsify the differential lubricant and result in rusting on gear and bearing surfaces. Seized U-joints that result in vibration can cause differential failure as well.

What happens when rear differential fails while driving?

Depending on the vehicle and the issue the rear differential has, what happens when the rear differential goes out while driving varies in severity. If you have broken gear teeth or badly chipped teeth then you will experience a soft of “skip” in power or vibration that increases with speed.

How do you know if your diff is broken?

A failing differential will often produce loud whirring noises or sometimes rattling. Any time you hear a strange noise coming from your vehicle, you should get it checked out by an auto repair expert. It can be any number of problems, including the differential.

How can a diff break?

By putting too much stress on the new car, we mean driving too fast (more than 50 mph) for long periods of time or by towing or hauling another object, such as an RV or a boat. This can cause your differential to overheat and start to break down.

Is a rear differential leak serious?

The differential gasket is the gasket that seals the differential housing. It is usually an oil resistant preformed gasket, though some differentials use silicone as their gasket. When the gasket fails, it can cause the differential to leak, which may put it at risk of running low on fluid and suffering serious damage.

What are the signs of a bad rear end?

Symptoms of a bad rear differential

• Excessive Noise:
• Differential failure due to lack of lubrication:
• Differential overheating:
• Difficulty in handling the wheels:
• Vibration:
• Lack of Oil:
• Wrong oil type:
• Normal wears:

How long does it take for a rear differential to go bad?

Much like other components in a car, a rear differential can go bad simply because of ageing. As they get older, the oil breaks down and parts wear down, sometimes leading to damage. In most cases, you should be fine for up to five years.

How long should a rear differential last?

The lifespan of a differential depends on various factors, such as driving habits, level of maintenance, the type of oil used during servicing, and many more. Under regular use and proper maintenance, differentials should last 150,000 miles or the life of a vehicle.

What are the signs of a bad rear differential?

Symptoms Of A Bad Rear Differential

• Vibrations. A bad differential can cause vibrations that increase in intensity as you speed up and reduce as you slow down.
• Grinding Gears. Grinding gears is another significant sign that your differential is failing and that the gears are wearing themselves out.
• Whining Noises.

Can a rear differential be repaired?

A typical rear differential repair costs anywhere between $200 and $400. These typical repairs would include your bearing, seals, and fluid changes. Of course, when a gear change is required, that’s when things get pricey.