What You Should Know About Differential Service And Repair

May 16, 2023 | By Mister Transmission

What You Should Know About Differential Service and Repair

Discover what you need to know about differential service and repair and learn what Mister Transmission can do for you and your vehicle’s differential.

What Is A Differential?

All automobiles have a differential. It compensates for the difference in distance the inner wheels and outer wheels travel as the automobile rounds a corner. In a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, the differential has its own housing and lubrication. For a front-wheel drive vehicle, the differential is often integrated in the transmission housing and it shares the same fluid. In an automatic or continuously variable transmission, this would be automatic transmission fluid. In a manual transmission, it could be automatic transmission fluid, hypoid gear oil, engine oil, or transmission oil.

The lubrication is needed for the ring and pinion gears that transfer power from the driveshaft to the axles. If your vehicle has a limited-slip differential, the lubrication also keeps the moving parts in that assembly healthy. Because the differential might be in the same housing as the transmission and use the same lubricant, many transmission shops, such as Mister Transmission, also offer differential service and repair.

Differential Service And Repair

As with pretty much any auto part that requires lubrication, that lubrication is key to maintenance and repair. Good maintenance means ensuring you have the right amount of lubricant and the right quality of lubricant. At Mister Transmission, we can ensure your differential has the fluid it needs to operate smoothly, whether that’s transmission fluid or another lubricant.

However, if you’ve been driving around with too little differential lubricant, you’re going to have problems. You certainly wouldn’t be the first to make this error, but it can have severe consequences. Without lubricant, the differential can grind down and suffer from all the friction it endures. In the worst cases, this can necessitate a complete replacement.

Signs Of A Bad Differential

How can you know if your differential needs a repair? There are a few telltale signs. The first is noise. If you hear a whining sound, especially when you turn, there’s a good chance that your differential is lacking lubricant.

Uneven tire wear and bad handling are two other common symptoms. A malfunctioning differential means the inner wheels on any turn have to spin faster, reducing tread life. A bad differential also makes it more difficult to steer. Last, excessive vibration or grinding may also indicate a bad differential.

Come To Mister Transmission For Differential Maintenance And Repair.

At Mister Transmission, we are transmission and differential experts. If you suspect there’s an issue with your differential or transmission, we can assess and repair or replace it as needed. Please contact us today to schedule a maintenance service or repair.

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Customer Reviews
An unexpected, great experience. My...
Mark Luscher
An unexpected, great experience. My regular mechanic was unable to take my car, and with an axle noise increasing in volume, and a long trip coming in just a few days, I was searching for a reliable place to take my car. I noted that this Mister Transmission is the current incarnation and location for a garage (‘Precision Transmission’) previously recommended by the Automobile Protection Association, so I decided to give them a call. Since an axle is part of the ‘drive train’ they agreed to take the issue on. I brought it in and they went for a 20 minute test drive to hear the noise. (The drive was long because of heavy traffic). Then they switched up some scheduling to make time on their hoist in order to run the car while observing the rotating wheels and drive train. The problem became obvious: a worn left axle — which had been changed only 6 months earlier at my usual garage. Clearly the part has been poor quality or defective. Mister Transmission assured me that I was safe in the short term to continue driving with it, AND they encouraged me to take the back to the mechanic who had done the work originally, for follow up. They would gladly have done the job, but felt it might be in my best interest to have the original mechanic follow up because of the early part failure. I asked them to please charge me for the time and expertise they had provided, but they would not, though I was persistent. I would gladly recommend this business to anyone in need of transmission or drive train service. They are trustworthy and kind, and I am grateful for their help.
Date: May 22, 2023
Website: Google
Honest place. Hard to say...
David Blankenstyn
Honest place. Hard to say in this industry. Keep up the good work
Date: May 22, 2023
Website: Google
Nice transmission service
Yiqun Liang
Nice transmission service
Date: May 21, 2023
Website: Google
Jason and Brad were great,...
Akash Purohit
Jason and Brad were great, and provided me with the updates every time I called to inquire about my car. I know they were working had to rebuild/repair my transmission and the staff was short handed, but overall so far the car is great the service was great. Other than the time frame being far to long it was a pleasant experience with the staff.
Date: May 21, 2023
Website: Google
Great and honest service. Highly...
Khodor Faraj
Great and honest service. Highly recommend
Date: May 21, 2023
Website: Google
Great place. Friendly and honest...
Brandyn Reinhart
Great place. Friendly and honest people.
Date: May 21, 2023
Website: Google
Jason is the best customer...
Bruce Beeler
Jason is the best customer service agent I have ever dealt with in my life. Vast knowledge of cars and very pleasant to deal with.
Date: May 21, 2023
Website: Google
They were able to fit...
Vanessa Hodgins
They were able to fit me in less than a week and the turnaround time was great. Everything was explained to me clearly and concisely. Definitely recommend!
Date: May 21, 2023
Website: Google
I have been driving (and...
Anastasia Gelinas
I have been driving (and repairing) vehicles for many years now. Occasionally I try out other automotive repair shops but I always end up returning to Mr. Transmission. The quality and service is second to none. The prices are what one would expect for automotive repair. There is no price gouging or misinformation regarding services. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. This is my forever shop and I can not recommend it enough.
Date: May 20, 2023
Website: Google
The new owner Jason is...
Mars
The new owner Jason is much better than the old owner Gary, who is racist, everytime when I called in, he said sorry I don’t understand you. In fact my English IELT is 7.0. Jason is much different, he is very friendly & professional, and most of all, his new team is the master. New sheriff in town. Highly recommended!
Date: May 19, 2023
Website: Google
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