Is a rear differential leak serious?

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 do you know if your differential is leaking?

Rear differential leaks are the culprit, either at the axle seals, the pinion seal (where the driveshaft attaches), or the rear differential cover. Light brown or grayish fluid on the ground under the back of your truck is an indication that you have a differential fluid leak.

What are the symptoms of a bad differential?

5 Signs of a Failing Differential

• Tire Damages. If you notice strange damages on the sidewall and outer tread of your vehicle’s tires, it may be caused by failing differential components.
• Hard to Handle.
• Vibrations.
• Gears Grinding.
• Whining Sounds.

Is it safe to drive with a rear differential leak?

If the leaking axle seal does not get fixed soon and the transmission is slipping, you could cause permanent damage to the transmission. 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.

How much does it cost to fix a differential leak?

A typical rear differential repair costs anywhere between $200 and $400. These typical repairs would include your bearing, seals, and fluid changes. Of course, when a gear change is required, that’s when things get pricey. $1,500 is just the minimum you can expect to pay for new gears.

How much does it cost to replace differential fluid?

When changing the differential fluid, the overall differential fluid change cost averages between $80-$150 for the rear and $70 to $130 for the front change, coming in at a total price of between $150-$280 for the differential fluid change cost.

What would cause a differential to leak?

The most Common Causes of Differential Fluid Leaks There is a number of causes for differential leaks which you need to have repaired as soon as possible before you damage the gears inside your differential housing. The cause for a leak could be a leaking gasket, a leaking pinion seal or a differential side seal.

How long does a rear differential fluid change take?

This service usually takes about 10 minutes per differential.

What are the signs of a bad differential?

There are many signs that will let you know that your differential needs to be repaired or replaced. One of the most obvious signs is a loud whirring noise that takes place when your vehicle is decelerating. You also may hear a howl or a whine when you are accelerating. This can be symptomatic of a bad differential.

What is a bad differential?

Differential or transmission are whining. One of the symptoms that is most commonly associated with bad or failing differential or gear oil is a noisy transmission or differential. If the gear oil runs low, or becomes excessively dirty, it can cause the gears to whine or howl as they turn.

How do you fix a rear differential leak?

Fixing the rear differential oil leak – resealing with RTV silicone Loosen bolts Prize open case Drain oil Scrape off old gasket sealant with a plastic scraper Clean cover plate Apply sealant (gasket maker or RTV silicone) Place cover back on and hand tighten Fully tighten and leave for 24 hours before filling with oil

What would cause a rear differential to leak?

In most case, age, wear and tear, or excess exposure to harsh weather and elements causes the differential gasket to break or leak. However, in some very rare cases, excessive pressure inside the rear end housing can also lead to pushing the gasket out which can also create a leak.