What causes a rear differential to leak?
Rear Differential Leaks Caused by Failed Gasket The rear differential requires gear oil in order to function smoothly. The gear oil is kept in place by a gasket, and if this gasket has failed, then rear differential leaks will occur.
How bad is a leaking rear differential?
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. Usually a bad or failing differential gasket will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential problem that should be serviced.
How do you stop a rear differential leak?
However, many people find that rear differential leaks are the most common. Rather than searching for where your leak is coming from, simply add BlueDevil Oil Stop Leak to your differential oil through the oil fill plug and your leaking seal will be reconditioned and restored while you drive!
How much does it cost to fix a rear differential leak?
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. $1,500 is just the minimum you can expect to pay for new gears.
How long does it take to fix a differential leak?
These bearings are part of a rear differential overhaul, taking three to five hours to complete. Replacing the rear differential gears. When teeth on the gears have chipped or worn badly, they must be replaced to eliminate the noise and potential for failure.
What are the symptoms of a bad rear differential?
What are the Symptoms of Bad Differential/Gear Oil?
- Burning Smell from the Differential. When you notice a bad smell coming from your gearbox, you should take it as a sign of bad differential oil which can be contaminated hence not operating as it should be.
- Weird Noises.
- Vibrations.
How do you know if your rear differential needs fluid?
A burning smell from your differential or gearbox is another sign you need near differential oil. The smell may be coming from oil leaking out of an old seal — you may even notice a reddish stain under your car’s parking spot. The burning smell might also be a result of an overheating gearbox from poor lubrication.
What does a bad rear end sound like?
In the case of a rear end, the noise can be a humming sound, a growl, or even a knock. Although any noise is bad, the noise does help in diagnosis. Ring and pinion gear-noise changes with vehicle speed and is usually unaffected by loads and turns.
What happens if your rear end goes out?
Typically, when the gears wear out — or the bearings fail — the differential will start to howl. You’ll hear something that sounds like a deep whistling sound that goes up and down in pitch as you go faster and slower. Sometimes it’ll go away when you step on the gas.