The inside wheels require a smaller turning radius, meaning fewer revolutions are needed. When you corner your car, the right and left wheels take different paths. However, instead of using a center differential, most of these vehicles contain a transfer case in its place. Typically, a four-wheel-drive vehicle will have a front and rear differential. In addition, the front and rear differentials will split that torque further between the left and right wheels on that axle. The center differential is responsible for splitting the torque among the front and rear differentials. There is one in the front, another in the rear and a final one located in the center. Some people refer to this differential as the rear diff or simply the rear end.Īll-wheel drive vehicles are set up with three differentials. It is linked to the transmission with a driveshaft. Rear-wheel drive vehicles use an independent differential located between the two rear wheels. In fact, the term transaxle can be used interchangeably in these vehicles to describe the differential or transmission. This single unit combines the transmission with the differential. On a front-wheel drive vehicle, there is a transaxle. Driven wheels are the ones that receive engine torque to drive the vehicle.īoth front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles use two drive wheels. The setup relies on how many driven wheels the vehicle uses. Vehicles use varying differential placements and amounts. RELATED: Diagnosing Rear Differential Noises Differential Location Rear Differential Location If you ignore the problem, you could be looking at more expensive damage, even to the transmission. If caught early enough, a simple fluid change might be all that is needed. This condition can also create a humming noise from the gear grinding.Īs you accelerate, the humming grind will get louder. When the differential wears down, the gears can start to grind. If you have it looked at right away, you could avoid more costly repairs down the road. Thankfully, vibration is one of the first signs that something is wrong with the differential. Additionally, if there is a differential fluid leak, the vibrations will become progressively more noticeable. As you step on the accelerator, the vibrations will become worse. Once the differential or universal joints become worn out, you will begin to feel some vibration coming from the driveshaft. You don’t want to lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. Whether the cause of the poor handling is the differential or not, it should always be checked out. If it is failing, it is going to change the cornering ability and create an unstable drive. Poor HandlingĪ well-functioning differential ensures that your vehicle corners the way it was intended. There could also be some vibration that operates in conjunction with the sound. Depending on what type of tires you have, the noise will sound like chirping or rapid squealing. This sound indicates that your tires are slipping and gripping intermittently. This premature tire wear is common when the differential is going bad.Ī locked differential causes what is known as tire scrubbing. If both sides of your tires have to travel at the same speed while cornering, your car’s inner tires will wear out sooner because they are rotating faster than needed. As the components lose valuable lubrication, you are going to hear whining noises coming from the differential location. It could also mean that the differential is leaking fluid, which will lead to premature wear. In many cases, it simply means that the differential components are not properly lubricated. The most common symptom associated with a defective differential is a whining sound. Here is a more detailed list of the signs of a bad or failing differential to look for: 1. It can also result in poor handling, vibrations, or gear grinding in rare cases. You may also notice excessive tire wear if you visually inspect your tires. The most common symptom of a bad front or rear differential is a whining noise. Does changing differential fluid make a difference? Symptoms Of A Bad Front or Rear Differential
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