Most car owners appreciate the need to service their engine and gearbox on a regular basis to compensate for high temperatures, friction and wear and tear. Yet if they own a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, they need to pay attention to another area towards the back of the car or truck that will also need some TLC if problems are to be avoided. So, when was the last time that you serviced your rear axle, and why is this so crucial?
Complex Engineering
Inside the rear axle casing, you'll find a pair of driveshafts (sometimes known as "half" shafts) connecting each rear wheel to a complex, mechanical array. This is known as a limited-slip differential, and it performs a very important task that will enable your vehicle to be driven around a corner without any drama.
Turning the Corner
Without this type of differential, you'd find it very difficult to turn that corner as the wheel on the inside would be travelling at a different speed to its counterpart. As you can imagine, the outer wheel will have to travel a longer distance than the inner in this situation, and without this "trick" differential, you could expect major problems.
Apportioning Power
The differential is a very clever piece of engineering that has ring, spider and pinion gears that turn at different speeds according to the road condition. The differential will always receive the same amount of power from the gearbox via the prop shaft but will have to apportion the amount of drive sent to each wheel based on the conditions.
Special Lubricants
When the gears turn, they generate a lot of heat and will have to put up with a lot of friction. This is why engineers add a specially developed lubricant and why it is very important for you to check or change this lubricant during a major service. After all, the lubricant will eventually degrade, and when it does so, it'll be less able to protect those moving mechanical parts. Eventually, this could lead to a breakdown and a costly repair bill.
Bear in Mind
So, don't forget your limited-slip differential when you think about any future service. Remember just how important these parts are – and how effective the transmission fluid needs to be. At the same time, understand that this task can be very messy, and unless you are fully prepared at home, you should always outsource to an expert. Look into car servicing near you for more information.
Share19 April 2022
If you drive a lot for business, you probably put a lot of kilometres on your vehicle. Whether you are driving from client to client in the same city or driving across the country, your vehicle needs to be well prepared for the journey. You don't want to miss out on a great opportunity because your car has broken down on the way to the meeting. Hi, my name is Carla, and I've been stranded on the side of the road, desperately trying to reach a client to reschedule. After that experience, however, I decided that I needed to pay more attention to auto service, and recently I decided to create this blog to help others in similar situations. Thanks for reading! I hope my tips help you!
