How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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A rear- axle oil leak is easy to miss. The axle works normally until it suddenly seizes up – the expensive and possibly dangerous result of it running dry of oil. Some axles have a filler plug and drain plug; some have only a filler. The clearest sign of a leak is oil on the ground under the car.
A rear differential leak is an issue where differential oil seeps out of the rear differential`s housing. This happens when one of the mechanical seals in the differential has worn out or failed. The differential gasket, pinion seals, and side seals are some of the seals that can leak differential fluid if they go bad.
The differential fluid lubricates the ring and pinion gears which transfer power from the driveshaft to the wheel axle. If your vehicle experiences differential fluid leaks, the fluid lubricating these gears will run low and as a result, the gears can be seriously damaged.
The most common cause of a leaking axle seal is improper axle installation or removal but the axle seal can also wear out over time. If you`re concerned that your axle seal might be leaking, here are a few things to look out for: Oil drops below your vehicle after it has been parked.
Check the fluid level with your finger.
The gear oil in the rear differential should reach the bottom of the service port hole. Insert one finger into the open service port. Bend your finger downward slightly to see if it comes into contact with gear oil. If your finger touches gear oil, there is enough fluid inside.
Another symptom of bad or failing differential gaskets are puddles or drips of fluid on the ground. If the differential gasket fails, the fluid inside of the differential housing may leak out and leave puddles or drips of gear oil on the floor, underneath the vehicle.
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.
A complete rear differential replacement includes replacing the housing, gears, bearings, and seals. The average time it takes a certified mechanic to perform a differential rebuild at a shop is usually three to five hours. A rebuild on a commercial vehicle by someone without prior experience could take much longer.
There are two basic types of differential fluid: Mineral oil, which is a natural, crude oil-based fluid. Synthetic differential fluid, which is created with chemicals and can be fine-tuned for optimal performance.
There is a LOT of torque going through your axles, and the gears inside are under a lot of pressure! In order to last, they need to be properly lubricated. Every front or rear axle is filled with a special oil (also called differential fluid, or gear oil) that takes care of this.
An axle seal is the part of the vehicle that connects the axle to the rear differential, or the transmission. The purpose of the axle seal is to keep transmission fluid from leaking. Depending on the size of the leak, it may be okay to drive with a leaking axle seal, but not for very long.
They keep your wheels moving properly through every twist, turn, and winding road your vehicle comes across. This process generates a lot of heat while requiring the proper flow of parts moving together. As such, differential systems require fluid to lubricate, cool, and protect these components.
towing capacity using a rear differential that holds between 3.3 and 3.5 quarts of fluid. This means less lubrication is responsible for protecting gears against increased heat and stress.
What is Axle Fluid? Every front or rear axle has oil called differential fluid or gear oil. Differential fluid is found in the axle housing to cool and lubricate the differential. It lubricates gear, clutch packs, bearings, and the ring and pinion gear that move power to the wheel axles from the driveshaft.
One of the most common and probably most noticeable signs of a problem with one of the vehicle`s axle shaft seals is a puddle of fluid underneath the car. When the axle shaft seal fails, oil or transmission fluid can leak from the transmission or differential.