{"id":41982,"date":"2021-07-21T01:44:26","date_gmt":"2021-07-21T08:44:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=41982"},"modified":"2023-09-15T20:46:18","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T03:46:18","slug":"bad-differential-symptoms-replacement-cost-faq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-differential-symptoms-replacement-cost-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"Bad Differential: Symptoms, Replacement Cost, &#038; FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column_4de894-ed > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_4de894-ed > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_4de894-ed > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_4de894-ed > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_4de894-ed > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_4de894-ed > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_4de894-ed > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_4de894-ed{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_4de894-ed > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_4de894-ed > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_4de894-ed qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-f11b64  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-757c68\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_e7c333-44, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_e7c333-44[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_e7c333-44\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_e7c333-44 mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_e7c333-44[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_e7c333-44\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_e7c333-44 img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_e7c333-44[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_e7c333-44\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading_e7c333-44 summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_e7c333-44\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A vehicle&rsquo;s differential is a complex assembly that transfers and manipulates engine torque being sent to the drive wheels.<\/li><li>Some of the common symptoms of a bad differential include abnormal noises from the drive axle, fluid leaks, and differential fluid contaminated with metal.<\/li><li>Low or contaminated fluid, mismatched tires, and severely worn u-joints are some common causes of a bad differential.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The differential is an important (and costly) part of your vehicle that transfers and manipulates engine torque being sent to the drive wheels. What&rsquo;s more, the differential allows the drive wheels to turn at different speeds when cornering to prevent skidding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, differentials are quite robust. But if the differential in your vehicle fails, you&rsquo;ll likely notice one or more symptoms that you&rsquo;ll want to address right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a Differential?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your vehicle&rsquo;s differential is a complex assembly that transfers and manipulates engine torque being sent to the drive wheels. The differential uses a hypoid gear set&mdash;consisting of a ring gear and a pinion gear&mdash;to change the direction of the engine torque so that the vehicle&rsquo;s drive wheels turn as they should. Torque is also multiplied by the gear ratio created between the ring gear and pinion gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/differential-cutaway-1024x685.jpg\" alt=\"differential cutaway\" class=\"wp-image-41985\" width=\"1024\" height=\"685\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/differential-cutaway-1024x685.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/differential-cutaway-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/differential-cutaway-768x514.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/differential-cutaway-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/differential-cutaway-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/differential-cutaway.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>The differential uses a hypoid gear set&mdash;consisting of a ring gear and a pinion gear&mdash;to change the direction of the engine torque so that the vehicle&rsquo;s drive wheels turn as they should.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, the differential contains a collection of pinion gears and side gears housed inside of a carrier assembly. The pinion gears and side gears are collectively known as &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/your-guide-to-how-spider-gears-work-plus-faqs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"spider gears\">spider gears<\/a>&rdquo;. The spider gears allow the drive wheels to rotate at different speeds so that the vehicle can turn a corner without skidding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ring gear attaches to the carrier assembly and the side gears spline to the vehicle&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/axle-shaft\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"axle shafts\">axle shafts<\/a>, which connect to the wheels. A variety of bearings support the various components within the differential assembly and allow rotation with minimal friction. The differential is filled with fluid to keep everything lubricated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There&rsquo;s a differential for each set of drive wheels. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Rear-wheel drive vehicles have one differential in the rear.<\/li><li>Four-wheel drive vehicles have two differentials: one in the front and one in the rear. A transfer case assembly is used to divide engine torque between the front and rear differentials.<\/li><li>On front-wheel drive vehicles, the differential is integrated into the transaxle and is often referred to as a &ldquo;final drive assembly&rdquo;.<\/li><li>A typical all-wheel drive vehicle with a front-wheel drive-biased layout has a transaxle (with integrated differential) in the front and a stand-alone differential in the rear. A power transfer unit (PTU) divides engine torque between the transaxle and rear differential. There&rsquo;s also a viscous coupler that prevents driveline windup.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The video below demonstrates how a typical differential works in a rear-wheel drive vehicle:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Around The Corner - How Differential Steering Works (1937)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yYAw79386WI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Signs of a Bad Differential<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you think you might be dealing with a bad differential? If your vehicle is exhibiting one or more of the following symptoms, you might be right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Note:<\/strong> Because other problems can present the same symptoms as a bad differential, you&rsquo;ll want to perform a thorough diagnosis of the vehicle before performing any repairs.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Abnormal Noises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Abnormal noises are often one of the first signs of a differential problem. A whining or growling noise from the drive axle while driving can indicate an issue with the ring and pinion gear set or one of the differential&rsquo;s bearings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the vehicle has a limited-slip differential&mdash;a design that continuously applies power to both drive wheels&mdash;sticking clutch packs within the assembly can create a chattering noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Issues within the differential can also lead to clunking noises. For example, damaged spider gears can cause a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/popping-noise-when-turning-common-causes-diagnosis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"clunking sound while cornering\">clunking sound while cornering<\/a>, whereas damaged ring and pinion teeth can create a clunking noise while driving in a straight line. In addition, excessive backlash between the ring and pinion can cause a clunking sound on acceleration or while putting the vehicle into gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, you may notice that a shuddering sensation or a vibration accompanies the noises from the differential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rear-differential-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"rear differential\" class=\"wp-image-41986\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rear-differential-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rear-differential-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rear-differential-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rear-differential-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rear-differential-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/rear-differential.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>The differential contains a collection of pinion gears and side gears, collectively known as &ldquo;spider gears,&rdquo; housed inside of a carrier assembly.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fluid Leaks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Fluid leaks from the differential are usually caused by worn-out seals. But there are also instances where a faulty component within the differential, such as a worn-out pinion bearing, can cause a seal to leak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Metal-Contaminated Fluid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you look at the differential fluid and find it&rsquo;s contaminated with a substantial amount of metal, the differential has likely failed internally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Power Isn&rsquo;t Transferred to the Drive Wheels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In instances where the broken differential suffers a catastrophic failure, engine torque may not be transferred to the drive wheels. As a result, the vehicle will be unable to move under its own power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Causes a Differential to Go Bad?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, the internal components within the differential simply wear out from normal use. Other common causes for differential failure include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Low fluid<\/li><li>Contaminated fluid (for example, a differential that&rsquo;s submerged in water could become contaminated)<\/li><li>Larger than normal tires or mismatched tires<\/li><li>Seized or severely worn u-joints<\/li><li>An incorrect driveline angle<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Differential?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Rebuilding or replacing a differential assembly is a costly and labor-intensive repair. If you choose to have a professional do the job, you can usually expect to pay somewhere <strong>between $2,000 and $4,000<\/strong>. Of course, the exact cost will depend on various factors, such as the year, make, and model of your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Differential FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1653618624871\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can You Drive with a Bad Differential? <\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">You&rsquo;ll want to address any differential problems as soon as possible. If the differential were to fail while driving, your vehicle could suffer additional damage, as we&rsquo;ll discuss below. <\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1653618639867\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">What Happens if a Rear Differential Goes Out While Driving? <\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The answer depends on what happens when the failure occurs. In a worst-case scenario, the differential could experience catastrophic failure and lock up, potentially causing damage to additional driveline components.<br><br>Also, if engine torque is no longer being transferred to the drive wheels, the vehicle may not move under its own power.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1653618640829\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\">Can a Bad Differential Cause Transmission Problems?<\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Although rare, a failed differential can damage the transmission. If the differential experiences catastrophic failure and locks up, other parts of the drivetrain, including the transmission, could be damaged as a result.<br><br>A failure of an internal differential inside of a transaxle can also cause damage to additional components within the transaxle assembly.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get a New Differential for Your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A bad differential takes the fun out of road trips. On top of that, it puts your vehicle at risk of catastrophic failure if you don&rsquo;t resolve it immediately. To avoid paying hundreds of dollars for repair jobs, you shop for a top-notch differential here at CarParts.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Precision-engineered and quality assured, our direct-fit differentials are guaranteed to get your vehicle running like it&rsquo;s good as new. Enter your vehicle&rsquo;s year, make, and model into our vehicle selector to view OE-grade differentials that fit your ride. Check out in a matter of minutes, and expect your order at your doorstep in as fast as two business days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a>, all our products come with a low-price guarantee, so you don&rsquo;t have to worry about breaking the bank for your repairs. And if you need to return your order, simply file a claim through our Returns Center, and we&rsquo;ll give your money back under our 60-day returns policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/differential\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"differentials\">differentials<\/a> today!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>The differential is an important (and costly) part of your vehicle that transfers and manipulates engine torque being sent to&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/bad-differential-symptoms-replacement-cost-faq\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":41984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3757],"tags":[3074],"ppma_author":[2622],"class_list":{"0":"post-41982","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-drivetrain","9":"tag-differential","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Bad Differential: Symptoms, Replacement Cost, &amp; FAQ - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The differential is a vital (and potentially costly) part of your vehicle. 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Here are some common signs of a faulty differential. 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