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Automotive Repair Services |
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The differential is a component in all vehicles designed to compensate for the difference in distance the inner wheels and outer wheels travel as the car goes around a corner. In a rear-wheel-drive car, the differential has its own housing and lubrication, a thick, dark oil usually heavier than 80 weight. Front-drivers typically integrate the differential in the transmission housing and share the same fluid. The differential oil lubricates the ring and pinion gears that transfer power from the driveshaft to the wheel axles. If your car is fitted with a limited-slip differential, it also keeps all the moving parts in that assembly healthy. Changing this oil is just as important as changing your engine's oil, and for the same reason. Metal-to-metal contact wears down surfaces and creates heat from friction, which inevitably weakens the gears and leads to failure. There are many variations on the design, but they fall into three categories: open, limited-slip, and torque-vectoring.
The oldest type of differential. Its simple, rugged design is widely used. The powered pinion gear meshes with the ring gear, which in turn transmits power to both axles through a second set of gears. The only weakness? When slippage occurs, power is directed to the wheel with the least grip.
To overcome this problem, a clutch system is installed into the differential. The action of the mechanism locks the left and right-side axles together if wheel slip happens.
This is the latest and greatest type of differential. This design employs the full array of sensors in a car to determine which wheel should be getting the most power and uses electronic controls and clutches to direct it there.
Changing the differential oil is one of the most-overlooked maintenance tasks on non-FWD light trucks, SUVs, and passenger cars. Because the differential is at the rear and under the car, it gets none of the star treatment that the engine up front does. Fortunately, you only need to have us change this oil every 30,000 to 50,000 miles (as always, check your owner's manual). give us a call at 1-865-463-2233 to schedule an appointment today!