Rear Differential Service Lake Oswego
If you’ve been looking for reliable front or rear differential service in Lake Oswego, visit us at Dan’s Auto Center! We’re a family-owned and operated shop that’s been providing high-quality auto service in our community since 1989. We specialize in Japanese imports and domestics and are staffed with a team of ASE-certified Master Technicians who can assist you with whatever your vehicle needs.
What is a Differential?
If you’re not sure what a differential is, you’re not alone! All cars have a differential, whether they’re front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive. Some vehicles even have more than one. The differential works by compensating for differences in wheel speed while you’re making a turn. For example, when you make a turn, the inside wheels have a shorter distance to go than the outer wheels, which means your outer wheels have to turn faster to keep up the pace with your inner ones.
The differential allows the wheels to turn at different speeds while still providing power to your vehicle. Without it, tires would skid and hob across the pavement during turns, affecting your traction and stability. Whether your differential is in the front, the back, or you have a transaxle (which combines the differential and the transmission in one unit), all the power from your engine is routed through it.
Servicing Your Differential
It’s important to service your differential to keep it well-maintained and properly lubricated. During servicing, we’ll drain and change the fluid in the differential and replace it with clean fluid. The differential fluid typically lasts longer than other automotive fluids, so most drivers will only need to have it changed a couple times over the lifetime of their car. Recommendations may vary based on your vehicle and the type of differential it has, but most automakers recommend servicing them every 30k to 60k miles. How and where you drive can also affect these recommendations; if you enjoy off-roading, for example, you’ll need to service your differential more often than if you only drive on the Lake Oswego roadways.
If it’s time for your transaxle, front, or rear differential service, give us a call today at 503-635-8335 or request your appointment online!
