Part two of a three part series on differential repair explores classic symptoms of a bad differential.
Part one explored differential fluid and when to change it. First off, let’s start with the sounds that a bad differential makes.
Differential Repair: Listen Up

Have you ever heard the sound a differential that’s working correctly makes? That’s because it doesn’t make a sound if it’s working right. However, a bad differential makes several different sounds. In mild cases, it may whistle. In more extreme it may rumble or clank, particularly when you accelerate. Every now and then, turn down your radio and listen. Since the differential is in the rear of the vehicle, the noise comes from the rear as well but it may be hard to pinpoint for sure depending on how audible it is.
If you start to hear something, you may need to get your car into a shop that does differential repair. Cars can’t magically get better as a rule. In fact they usually get a lot worse. Sounds are just one sign of a differential going bad.
Differential Repair in Mesa, High Mileage, and Coasting
Another symptom of a differential in need of differential repair Mesa AZ is if the symptoms get worse when coasting other than accelerating. If your differential is going bad, you’ll experience drag when you coast down the road. Another time it happens is at very low speeds, such as below 20mph. Drag may be so bad that it may even feel like you have low tires.
The time that a differential is most likely to go bad is if your vehicle has about 150,000 miles on it. So if you have a high mileage car, watch your odometer and keep an eye and an ear on the way your vehicle is handling. Before it escalates to too severe of an issue, make sure that you get your vehicle into somewhere that can do differential repair Mesa AZ.
Differential repair in Mesa, AZ is only one of the services that the auto mechanics at Trail Transmission can offer. Since 1990 we have proudly served all makes and models in the East Valley. Call us today and let us show you the Trail Transmission difference.
Trail Transmission
11240 East Apache Trail
Apache Junction, AZ 85120-3529
(480) 986-7367
Differential Repair Apache Junction AZ
Differential Repair Part I: Replace Your Fluid
Differential Repair Part II: Signs That You’ll Need Differential Repair