Rather than spending a huge amount on repairs, see how much your broken car is worth as-is. Or read on to compare your options.
You have a heavy-duty truck or SUV for a reason – it works hard and has to be reliable. You keep close tabs on the engine and transmission, changing the fluid regularly to make sure they don’t break down. But have you paid any attention to your rear differential? If you haven’t given it any thought, it’s probably due for a rear differential service.
If you have rear differential noise, which sounds like a whirring noise from the back of your car, it’s probably too late and a rear differential repair is in your future. Starting to hear that clicking sound, or noise when turning may mean you'll have to figure out what to do with your damaged car, whether that's selling it or repair.
A driveshaft connects the rear differential mechanism to the transmission or transfer case, transferring the engine’s power to the rear wheels. The rear differential’s role is simple: change the power’s direction from longitudinal (along the car) and direct it to the wheels.
Rear differential repairs can be as much as a transmission to repair or replace, up to $1500 or more. CarBrain has more than 10 years of experience buying damaged cars of all kinds, including those with rear differential problems.
Gears inside the differential accomplish this purpose, providing a 90-degree direction change along the rear axles. The power is transmitted from the rear differential along axle shafts that connect to the wheels and rotate to propel the vehicle forward.
The gears inside the rear differential are bathed in gear oil, which lubricates the gears and bearings and cools them to prevent overheating. The fluid breaks down over time, and metal filings from the gears and bearings collect in the fluid. Every once in a while rear differential fluid replacement must be performed. The gear oil must be changed to prevent damage to the gears inside, known as the ring gear and the pinion gear.
A rear differential service consists of removing the rear differential cover, cleaning any old fluid from inside the differential case, resealing the cover, and adding clean fluid. After a rear differential fluid change, most vehicles will go 20,000 to 40,000 miles before it’s due again.
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Typically, there are two symptoms you’ll notice when you have a bad differential, or car differential problems:
Other rear differential repairs might be:
Most seals and bearings are relatively inexpensive on their own. Combined with the few hours of labor required for their replacement, the typical rear differential cost of repair is between $200 and $400.
If gears are required, that number jumps a bunch. Rear differential repairs that include a new gear set may be $1,500 or even higher between parts and the labor to replace them. These are among the more expensive auto parts out there. As you can see, a broken differential can be costly.
If rear differential replacement is your only option, you can seek out a completed used assembly. A good used part with a decent warranty will be around $1,500 to $2,000 installed. Rear differential replacement with a brand new component is higher, around $3,000 to $4,000 in all.
If you don’t care to deal with rear differential repairs or they are outside your budget, you could sell your truck or SUV. Unlike the frustrating sales process selling your damaged vehicle privately, CarBrain is easy to use and fast! Simply request a quote for your vehicle in ‘as-is’ condition. Based on your vehicle’s information and condition, we offer you a fair price. Once you accept the offer, we’ll pay you for your vehicle and have it picked up. There’s no charge to use our service, and you’ll get money for your broken-down vehicle.