Log In
PRIMARY LOGO PRIMARY LOGO Create Account

The national cost for a rear differential service in 2023 is between $48 and $160 with an average of $96​

Save $20-$200 on your auto maintenance or repair when you book through us.

PRIMARY LOGO PRIMARY LOGO CALL TO BOOK

CarAdvise is a free membership discount club for car owners, like Expedia or Sam's Club. We have over 26,000 shops of the largest brands in our network, like Firestone and Pep Boys.

  • You'll never pay for services you don't need, because one of our service advisors reviews each repair before you pay.
  • Support by Phone and Chat to answer your questions
  • And we'll guarantee your repair for 12 months / 12,000 miles
Learn More
Shop-Crane-with-Engine

Lower than retail price.

Guaranteed.

Learn More

We've got your back.

12k/12mo Warranty.

Learn More

Auto Service Peace of mind.

14-Day Assurance.

Learn More

POPULAR VEHICLES

National average cost of a a Rear Differential Service
for popular vehicles:

Ford F-150

Avg. cost
$86

Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Avg. cost
$82

Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD

Avg. cost
$87

Car Model

Avg. cost

$50

What is a rear differential and how does it work?

A rear differential is a component of the drivetrain in a rear-wheel, four-wheel, or all-wheel-drive vehicle. The differential is a gearbox located at or near the center of the rear axle where it is attached to the driveshaft. There, a series of gears takes the rotational movement of the driveshaft and turns it ninety degrees and out toward the wheels.

A differential is so named because it also allows each of the attached axles (and wheels) to turn at different speeds to accommodate your vehicle when it turns around corners. Without this feature, your tires would skid rather than roll along the ground.

Rear differential service is a routine maintenance procedure that aims to replace the gear oil that lubricates and cools the moving parts inside the differential.

COMMON SYMPTOMS

How do I know if my vehicle needs a rear differential service?

Problems with a rear differential are often caused by excessive wear. If your differential is wearing out or fails, you might notice one or more of the following signs:

The differential case is getting excessively hot

You feel vibrations coming from the rear of your vehicle

You hear growling or grinding noises coming from the differential while driving

You see gear oil leaking from the differential

This text is only for demo

There are 0 shops within 20 miles of your location.

##SHOPLOGOS1##
BOOK SERVICE NOW

HOW IS THIS SERVICE PERFORMED?

How is a a Rear Differential Service done?

Rear differential service procedures vary by vehicle make and model. The procedure, however, is not altogether different from an oil change. A drain plug is removed to allow the gear oil to escape. A technician collects the old oil for disposal or recycling. Once the old lubricant is fully drained, the drain plug is reinserted, and fresh gear oil is pumped into a different inspection/fill hole in the differential to the proper level.

Some differentials do not feature a drain plug. Instead, these models require that the rear differential cover plate be removed in order to drain the old fluid. When this is the case, the service is more complex and often requires other parts to be purchased, such as a new gasket for the cover. On the other hand, this procedure also allows the technician to inspect the inside of the differential.



Other questions customers ask

Is rear differential service necessary?
Yes. Just like the moving parts in your engine need oil, the gears in the differential would make metal-to-metal contact without sufficient lubrication. While some amount of wear is inevitable, gear oil in the differential ensures that excessive wear does not occur. Over time, the gear oil breaks down and no longer lubricates as it should. It also picks up tiny fragments of metal and other debris that can cause premature wear. Therefore, it is necessary to change the gear oil regularly.
What happens if you don't change rear differential fluid?
If you don't change your differential fluid, it eventually degrades and breaks down. It no longer protects the moving parts and seals the way fresh fluid does. This results in premature wear of the bearings and gears, which ultimately leads to axle failure.
Can the rear differential cause transmission problems?
The rear differential does not share the same fluid, gears, or bearings with the transmission. If the rear differential gets damaged, it is highly unlikely that it would also hurt the transmission in any way. The rear differential may however, mimic the symptoms of a transmission going bad which can falsely lead the vehicle owner to believe that his or her transmission is damaged.

This is demo Question

This is demo Answer

RELATED PARTS

What parts are related to a Rear Differential Service?

Differential

Related Parts

RELATED SERVICES

What are some other common services related to a Rear Differential Service?

CV Axle Replacement
Drive Axle Assembly Drain & Refill
Axle Shaft Bearing Replacement

Related Services

Trusted by even more leading companies.

We've earned a reputation as the go-to choice for quality car care, with some of the biggest names in business reaping its benefits and improving their customer's car care experience.

doordash
ebay
Allstate
carvana
buckle

Join the world's largest consumer fleet.

Over 1.5 Million already have.

Questions? We've got answers.

Our digital platform is designed to make maintaining and repairing your vehicle a breeze – from conveniently scheduling services, finding shops in the area, approving work remotely or getting free expert advice so you can be confident about any decision.

There’s nothing to pay up-front; you simply only pay for repairs or services that you approve. 

Nope, no funny business here—just get the job done and pay for what you approve. It really is that simple.

With our handy nationwide network of over 26,000 shops to choose from and free sign-up – you can rest assured your car is in good hands. 

With CarAdvise, you don’t need a fleet of 100,000 cars to get an amazing deal on car services. Our discounted prices are guaranteed to beat any other retail options – so why spend more? On average customers save 15-40% when they choose us – that could mean hundreds saved in just one service job.

Learn More

At CarAdvise, we believe life is unpredictable and if you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment – no worries! We promise there’s never any penalty for missed appointments.

We’ve partnered with the best in the industry such as Firestone, Pep Boys, JiffyLube, Canadian Tire, NTB, Meineke, Tire Kingdom, AAMCO, Monro, FCA dealerships and many independent shops across the country.

Ready to join the party? Just a few clicks and you’ll be all set – create your account now. You can easily create your account here.

Just email us at support@caradvise.com or give our friendly team a ring at (844) 923-8473 and we’ll be sure to lend you the helping hand you need.

FOLLOW US

ABOUT

RESOURCES

CONTACT

  • support@caradvise.com
  • (844) 923-8473

APP DOWNLOADS

Privacy Policy
Terms of Service

© 2023 CarAdvise LLC. All rights reserved.

Guarantee
Reviews
Services
  • (844) 923-8473
  • support@caradvise.com
PRIMARY LOGO PRIMARY LOGO CREATE ACCOUNT
LOG IN
CALL TO BOOK

Please have your license plate or VIN ready.