Ever wonder how when your car turns, its outside wheels could turn about five feet further than the inside wheels? How is this possible when they both keep turning? This is the job for something called your differential, and we want to share some tips to keep yours lasting longer. The differential is, in essence, the last stop for power before spinning the wheels. It has three main jobs:  First, to aim engine power at the wheels. Second, to act as the final gear reduction in the vehicle, slowing the rotational speed of the transmission one final time before it hits the wheels, and third, to transmit the power to the wheels while allowing them to rotate at different speeds. Maybe obvious, but the third job is what has given the differential it’s name.

We want to take good care of your car’s differential because of the important jobs it must do. Furthermore, because it has to do directly with driving and your tire speeds, we want to keep your safer on the road. Car wheels spin at different speeds, particularly when turning. The inside wheels travel a shorter distance than the outside wheels. Since speed is equal to the distance traveled divided by the time it takes to go that distance, the wheels that travel a shorter distance travel at a lower speed. Also note that the front wheels travel a different distance than the rear wheels. It doesn’t have to be a tricky mathematical sounding formula. It actually does make sense.

If your car did not have a differential, the wheels would have to be locked together, forced to spin at the same speed. Likewise, we want to make sure it is working at optimal performance. If it were not working properly,  turning would be difficult and hard on your car.  For the car to be able to turn, one tire would have to slip. With modern tires and concrete roads, a great deal of force is required to make a tire slip. That force would have to be transmitted through the axle from one wheel to another, putting a heavy strain on the axle components.It is important to listen and feel for what and when something feels abnormal. Noises or related problems when cornering should be the first sign to bring your vehicle in to a trustworthy auto repair shop.

Ask us or your Tempe auto repair service advisor for the recommended differential service  interval. Proper differential service will help your differential last as long as possible. Like most any other fluid in your vehicle, differential oils degrade over time and begin to lose some of their lubricating properties. Just like motor oil, they need to be changed out from time to time. That is what we do best- service and maintenance to help your vehicle and it’s systems last longer and save you money in the long run.