Your car’s rear differential is one of the essential parts of your vehicle, as it allows your car to accelerate and move forward, regardless of whether you’re driving on flat roads or steep inclines. Unfortunately, however, many car owners ignore this piece of equipment until it breaks down and need replacement or repair. Fortunately, several signs will alert you to impending problems with your car’s rear differential, allowing you to catch and fix them before they can damage your car’s engine and braking systems.
How Does a Car’s Rear Differential Work?
On vehicles equipped with rear-wheel drive, the rear differential is the hub that connects the rear axles. The purpose of a rear differential is to allow the rear wheels to spin at different speeds. This is an improvement over older designs because the car can direct more power to the wheel that needs it based on driving conditions, significantly improving traction and performance.
How Does a Bad Differential Affect My Driving?
If your vehicle’s rear differential is failing, your car’s performance will suffer. As a result, when driving, especially cornering, your car’s handling will become unpredictable, making driving more difficult and dangerous.
What Are the Signs I Have a Bad, Failing, or Slipping Differential?
Several signs you should be aware of indicating a failing rear differential. One of the first signs you will notice is odd vibrations while driving. These vibrations will become more apparent when speeding up or slowing down. In addition, you may hear a whining sound while accelerating.
This whining sound is a tell-tale sign of issues with the drive train and can sometimes come from the transmission. Therefore, your mechanic should diagnose the cause of any odd noises you notice while driving. Finally, your tires may show abnormal wear patterns if your car’s rear differential fails. If you see more wear on the outer edge or even signs of wear on the outer walls of the rear tire(s), your rear differential is most likely to blame.
Should I Have My Differential Repaired, Replaced, or Just Drive On?
Driving on a failing rear differential is never advisable because, like most car problems, a failing rear differential will only worsen unless it’s repaired. Your auto care technician will be able to diagnose any issues related to your car’s rear differential and repair them before your vehicle becomes inoperable.
If you notice a failing rear differential, see your trusted mechanic as soon as possible to get it fixed, your rear tires will thank you!