car differential

Differential

FAQ

Carage would like to welcome you to our website’s page dedicated to questions we get from our customers in the greater Jupiter area about the repair and service of automotive differentials.

Here are some common questions about Differential.

Occasionally one of our customers in the Jupiter area will ask a technician at Carage what a limited slip differential is. We tell them that when their vehicle is turning around a curve, the outside wheel turns a larger radius than that of the wheel inside. This results in the outside wheel turning faster which is allowed by the differential. In a limited slip differential system, clutches or a locking mechanism is used to facilitate power and drive both wheels. This system was designed to enable both wheels to turn at varying speeds in turns, but have them both pulling when driving straight. The advantage of this is that both wheels are pulling even when one wheel may lose traction.

Carage tells our customers in the Jupiter area that the differential in a vehicle is no different than any other component in that it is subject to wear and some vehicle’s differentials fail before others. The leading cause of a differential failing is due to using the wrong lubricant type and specialty lubricants. Water can also be a culprit to a differential failing as it can enter through the vent or seals. This often happens when driving in high water. When water enters it will emulsify the differential lubricant and result in rusting on gear and bearing surfaces. Seized U-joints that result in vibration can cause differential failure as well.