Is a rear differential leak serious?


Sharing is Caring


When the gasket fails, it can cause the differential to leak, which may put it at risk of running low on fluid and suffering serious damage. Usually a bad or failing differential gasket will produce a few symptoms that can alert the driver of a potential problem that should be serviced.

How much does it cost to fix a rear differential leak?

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.

What happens if you drive with a leaking differential?

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.

What to do if rear differential is leaking?

  1. Grab a drain pan.
  2. Loosen the bolts from the differential cover.
  3. Pry the differential cover off.
  4. Let the differential fluid drain.
  5. Remove the gasket from the differential pan.
  6. Clean the differential pan and clean the differential.
  7. Place a new gasket on the cover.
  8. Replace the differential cover.

Is it worth fixing a rear differential?

The truth is that sometimes replacing your rear differential will end up costing more than your car is actually worth. But that doesn’t mean you’re at a total loss. You can still junk a car with broken or faulty partsโ€”and walk away with cash for it.

How long should a rear differential last?

Under regular use and proper maintenance, differentials should last 150,000 miles or the life of a vehicle.

What causes a rear differential to leak?

Rear Differential Leaks Caused by Failed Gasket The gear oil is kept in place by a gasket, and if this gasket has failed, then rear differential leaks will occur. The most common indicator of a rear differential leak is puddles of fluid underneath your BMW.

How do I know if my rear differential is bad?

  1. Vibrations. A bad differential can cause vibrations that increase in intensity as you speed up and reduce as you slow down.
  2. Grinding Gears. Grinding gears is another significant sign that your differential is failing and that the gears are wearing themselves out.
  3. Whining Noises.

What does a failing differential sound like?

Hearing an increase in the level of humming noises or gear grinding is a way of knowing almost for sure that you have a worn out differential. Usually the humming gets louder under acceleration. When this occurs it’s best to check the condition of your differential and replace if it’s in a rough condition.

How long can I drive with a leaking rear axle seal?

If there is significant fluid loss, so much that it affects the transmission, the vehicle should not be driven. If the leak is small and you can’t make it to an appointment for a few days, it is okay to drive your vehicle as long as you keep the transmission fluid full.

What does a differential leak look like?

Differential fluid often looks just like motor oil. Once again, you’ll have to put your eyes on the leak to determine its origin. Usually, if you have a leak at the rear of your vehicle and it’s rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, it means your differential is leaking. Differential oil usually has a distinctive smell.

Where are leaks coming from differential?

YouTube video

Can rear differential cause transmission problems?

When the differential doesn’t perform well, it creates metal-on-metal friction that wears down surfaces. The resulting heat weakens gears and can cause component failure and transmission problems. A bad differential makes the car harder to control turning corners, and that can be dangerous.

How much does a rear differential service cost?

These are light repair jobs that will cost between $200 to $400, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. What is this? But if you have more extensive damage to your differential that requires it to be dismantled or overhauled, then you are looking at about $400 to $800 in repair costs.

How much do differentials cost?

Most differential repairs will cost between $200 and $400 to repair. Of course, this depends on the severity of the defect and what parts need to be replaced. For a rebuilt differential, you might need to spend between $400 and $1,000. On the other hand, replacing a differential costs $1,000 to $2,000 on average.

What does a failing rear differential sound like?

Clunking, rumble, or howl when cornering: This may indicate a problem with the spider, or side gear. Depending on how extreme the sound, it could mean there has been a leak of lubricant, a worn spider gear, or even a broken gear.

What happens if you don’t change rear differential fluid?

If this fluid isn’t changed in the manufacturer-prescribed intervals, then it can get dirty and thick, which could damage the differential over time.

Is it worth changing differential fluid?

In most cases, you will need to change differential fluid every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. It’s important to stay on top of changing differential fluid because metal-on-metal contact creates heat from friction. It also weakens gears and wears down surfaces. That can lead to differential failure, which is a costly problem.

Can you drive without a rear differential?

The differential plays a vital role in helping the car to steer. Without it, the result would be that you could turn the wheel as much as you like but the car would continually drive in a straight line.

How much does it cost to change differential fluid?

Differential Fluid Change Cost The fluid itself can cost between $30 and $80, and labor will run between $40 and $70. All together, you’re looking at somewhere in the range of $70 to $150 to change your differential fluid depending on your vehicle, where you take it, and how much differential fluid it needs.

How often do I change my differential fluid?

Generally speaking, differential fluid should be changed anywhere from every 30,000 miles to 60,000 miles.

How do you prevent differential failure?

  1. Does It Need to be Replaced?
  2. Buy Quality Differentials.
  3. Watch Where You Drive.
  4. Avoid Abusing the Equipment.
  5. Stay Up to Date On Vehicle Maintenance.
  6. Get the Right Differential for Your Job.
  7. Keep it Lubricated.

What does low diff oil sound like?

Weird Noises Another symptom of a bad differential oil is whirring, whining, or howling strange noises, indicating that the metal part, clutches, gears, and differentials have not been lubricated due to a dirty lack of clean oil.

How do you differentiate between the TYRE noise and differential noise?

Differential Noise: Unlike a wheel bearing, where the noise will change with wheel speed but typically will not change with variations in load (acceleration/deceleration), the noise heard from a failing bearing within the differential will make a roaring or growling noise on changes in load as well as changes in speed.

Is it OK to drive with a rear axle seal leak?

The axle seal connects the axle the transmission and keeps the 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.

Craving More Content?

Carolina's BMW