

Once the differential or universal joints become worn out, you will begin to feel some vibration coming from the driveshaft. You don’t want to lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. Whether the cause of the poor handling is the differential or not, it should always be checked out. If it is failing, it is going to change the cornering ability and create an unstable drive. Poor HandlingĪ well-functioning differential ensures that your vehicle corners the way it was intended.

There could also be some vibration that operates in conjunction with the sound. Depending on what type of tires you have, the noise will sound like chirping or rapid squealing. This sound indicates that your tires are slipping and gripping intermittently. This premature tire wear is common when the differential is going bad.Ī locked differential causes what is known as tire scrubbing. If both sides of your tires have to travel at the same speed while cornering, your car’s inner tires will wear out sooner because they are rotating faster than needed. As the components lose valuable lubrication, you are going to hear whining noises coming from the differential location. It could also mean that the differential is leaking fluid, which will lead to premature wear.

In many cases, it simply means that the differential components are not properly lubricated. The most common symptom associated with a defective differential is a whining sound. Here is a more detailed list of the signs of a bad or failing differential to look for: 1. It can also result in poor handling, vibrations, or gear grinding in rare cases. You may also notice excessive tire wear if you visually inspect your tires. The most common symptom of a bad front or rear differential is a whining noise. Does changing differential fluid make a difference? Symptoms Of A Bad Front or Rear Differential
