

What does a differential service include? A differential fluid service is a process to drain the old, contaminated fluid and replace it with new differential fluid. At Hilltop Tire Service, the price starts at $165. How much does a differential service cost? Depending on your vehicle and how much differential fluid your vehicle needs will all factor into the cost of a differential service. If this happens, the gears could seize up, locking up the wheels, causing a lot of damage or even worse – an accident. What will happen if I skip a differential service? If the differential fluid is left too long, or if it starts to run low, the differential will get noisy and could eventually stop working.
#Cost of changing differential fluid manual
However, check your owner’s manual because every vehicle has specific requirements and recommended intervals. It is recommended to have the differential fluid changed every 40,000 to 60,000 miles. So, it is necessary to have your differential serviced regularly. Over time, the differential fluid gets dirty, breaks down, and needs to be replaced. On rear-wheel drive vehicles, the differential is on the rear axle, and four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles have a differential on both axles as well as a transfer case in between.ĭo I need a differential service? Differentials have many moving parts and strong gears that need proper lubrication, so they don’t seize up. On front-wheel drive vehicles, the differential is called a transaxle because its location allows it to be combined with the transmission. Whether your vehicle is a front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive depends on if you have a rear differential, front differential, or both. The differential is part of the driveline and is located between the wheels, where the driveshaft joins up with the axle. Without a differential, your tires would jump and skip during a turn. For example, when you turn a corner, the outside wheel travels a greater distance than the inside wheel, which means the outside tire needs to move faster to keep up with the inside tire. A differential allows for differing wheel speeds. In fact, it’s a pretty important part of the operation of your vehicle.
#Cost of changing differential fluid drivers
Suggest you double check if replacing the differential fluid is really necessary to maintain your warranty at 30K.Differential? What exactly is a differential? Does my vehicle have a differential? Does my differential need serviced? These are common questions a lot of local Des Moines drivers have, so you’re not alone if you’re wondering what a differential is and what it is for.Įvery vehicle on the road has a differential, whether you drive a front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive vehicle. I’d expect you’d get some $$ discount at an inde shop vs a dealership.īTW for what I can see here the recommended interval for normal type service for differential fluid is indeed 30K, but that looks like it means only an inspection of the fluid, not replacement. If warranty issues are of no concern, I’d ask fellow Subaru owners in my area who they use for inde shop work, somebody who specializes in Subarus preferably, and have it done there. Were I in your situation, and the new car warranty is still in effect, and I didn’t want to do the job myself I’d probably let the dealer do it for the fee they charge. And they may require a special friction modifier. Usually they require a special hypoid gear oil for that reason. The gear shapes in differentials are complex and require the proper fluid.

And be sure to use the exact fluid Subaru recommends. If the owner’s manual says 30 K, then that’s when to change it. How many miles between fluid changes is car design specific. Suggest to trust Subaru tho, as they are the ones that designed the vehicle. 30K miles seems on the conservative side for differential. If so, for both differentials and the transfer case, that price sounds more reasonable. Do you have a front differential too? This is a 4wd in other words? There may be a transfer case fluid change involved too then. $500 just for changing just the rear differential fluid seems a little pricey.
