What Is a Differential and Do You Have One?
August 12, 2018
With front-wheel drive being so common these days in Sterling Heights, Michigan, the differential is just taken care of during a transmission service, so most Sterling Heights drivers don't even have to think about it. And rear-wheel drive differentials don't need to be serviced for years, so it's understandable that it's not something on the top of Sterling Heights customers' minds. It's not uncommon for drivers to not know they have a differential let alone know that it needs service.
Call Sterling Tire & Auto in Sterling Heights at 586-264-7775 for information about differential service, or stop by our Sterling Heights, Michigan, auto center at 34701 Van Dyke Rd, 48312.
To better understand what a differential does, think about our local Sterling Heights high school track. There are lanes marked off on the track. For the longer distance races, the starting lines are staggered. The starting lines for the outside lanes are ahead of the starting lines for the inside lanes. That's to compensate for the longer length of the outside lanes. Staggering the starting lines means that each runner has the same distance to run.
The differential compensates for the difference in speeds between the inside wheel and the outside wheel in a turn, because they have to travel together through slightly different distances.
It's a very important function. When you think of it, all the power to get a vehicle moving goes through the differential. Most cars in the Sterling Heights, Michigan area weigh between 3,000 and 6,000 pounds (1,400 and 2,800 kg) – trucks even more. The power from the engine goes through the transmission and then through the differential to the drive wheels.
That's a lot of work and requires very heavy duty parts. And those parts need protection. The differential fluid lubricates the gears in the differential and keeps them cool.
The fluid eventually gets dirty and worn down. Some kinds of differentials require special additives that break down over time. So vehicle manufacturers recommend intervals for replacing your differential fluid.
The professionals at Sterling Tire & Auto will drain the used fluid and check it out for metal bits, which could be a sign of excessive wear on the gears. Then they’ll replace the fluid and install the additives if necessary.
Your Sterling Tire & Auto service advisor can look up the vehicle manufacture's recommended service interval or you can check your owner's manual. Give us a call at 586-264-7775 for more information about your differential service.
Sterling Tire & Auto
34701 Van Dyke Rd
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312
586-264-7775
Need Service?
More articles from Sterling Tire & Auto
Lubricate Driveshaft
March 30, 2025
See if any of these are happening to your vehicle. You feel it vibrating excessively underneath when its running, or you hear strange clunking, grating, or grinding sounds coming from beneath. Maybe its hard to turn your vehicle, or you can hear squeaking when youre going slow. Perhaps you fee... More
What Is an EGR Valve? (EGR Valve Service)
March 23, 2025
If you've ever felt your vehicle hesitate, go, then hesitate again, you might think there's something wrong with the transmission. After all, it's not moving smoothly down the road. But there are plenty of malfunctions that can cause those symptoms, one of them being something you may have nev... More
How Tired Are Your Tires? (Tire replacement)
March 16, 2025
Of the things you think about most, your tires are probably pretty far down the list. Thats understandable because todays tires are engineered to do their job without needing you to pay too much attention to them. But they DO wear out, and worn tires can contribute to skidding in bad weather, not... More