Diff and Driveline Services

About Diff Repair

Lube Mobile, the Mobile Mechanic can arrange overhaul or replace your Diff.

Lube Mobile is the mobile mechanic service which brings the skills and spare parts your vehicle needs to you. Save time and convenience by arranging your diff repair or diff service at your own location rather than bringing in your vehicle to a local workshop. Our fully qualified mechanics operate right across Australia and come with everything they need to carry out your next car service. We specialise in a range of vehicle makes and models and our mechanics are qualified to carry out your next logbook service. Book our services for your home, office or even your holiday location in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.

What is a diff repair?

Your vehicle’s diff – or differential – is a set of steel gears which send the power from your vehicle’s engine and transmission to your wheels. What kind of car repair or diff service that you require will depend on the type of car that you drive. Your diff will work slightly differently depending on whether your vehicle is a front wheel drive, rear wheel drive or a 4WD.

The differential is essentially responsible for both changing the direction of the torque – the turning force - transmitted to the drive wheels and it allows the drive wheels to turn at different speeds. The torque that your engine is producing goes to your transaxle (for front wheel drive cars) and the differential is responsible for directing that force in the best way possible for your driving.

So, how do you know if your vehicle needs a diff repair or a diff replacement?

Your car’s differential is an incredibly hard working piece of equipment and they are specially designed to take a lot of punishment over the life cycle of your car. Generally speaking, this part will be one of the most reliable engine components on your car but that doesn’t mean that it won’t need a diff service or a diff repair at some point. Common issues that may indicate your vehicle requires a specialist mechanic to take a look at your diff include:

• Noisy engine – keep an ear out for a whine or howling noise coming from underneath the car. If the pitch or the volume of the noise increases the faster that you drive, you may well have a problem with the diff.
• Strange smells – usually smells from your vehicle will be related to low fluid levels like gear oil in the differential case or deteriorating fluid. A burning smell or sharp odour coming from under your vehicle may indicate the need for diff reconditioning.
• Trouble controlling the vehicle – when the differential really needs seeing to, you may notice very loud grinding noises or even changes in the car’s responsible when turning. It may feel jerky, signalling power issues to your axle or badly disintegrating wheel bearings. If you are experiencing trouble steering your vehicle while driving, then it’s definitely time for a mechanic to take a look.
• Failure to move – if you can’t actually move your vehicle at all this may indicate that there is a problem with the gearbox or the axles. If the differential is actually broken and requires a rebuild, you won’t be able to shift your vehicle anywhere under its own steam. Fortunately, Lube Mobile mechanics have everything they need to ensure that you can book a mobile diff repair specialist to attend your location and carry out the work required on your drive shaft, gears and differential immediately. No need to arrange a tow truck to get to you to your local service centre or search for a mechanic near you. Lube Mobile travel anywhere.

How much does a diff rebuild cost?

Generally, early warning signs of a worn out diff or the need for a diff service will be hard to ignore if it’s been a slow decline in your vehicle’s performance. The noises, smells and the feel of the car will usually alert a vehicle owner to the need for a visit to your local shop. In this case, diff builders can use differential spares to carry out a successful diff repair and get your car back on the road sooner rather than later. Replacing bearings and seals – carrying out a diff repair – will usually cost you between $400.00 and $650.00. If the problem is the transaxle then you’re looking at twice that cost.

If you have ignored the early warning signs or the differential has actually blown up entirely and you’re not mobile at all, then you’re likely looking a full diff replacement cost. A complete overhaul, including to replace your diff, is likely set you back between $1,500.00 and $2,800.00 inclusive of both parts and labour.

First things, first. If your vehicle is displaying any signs that it’s in need of a diff repair or a diff service, then book online now for a local Lube Mobile mechanic to attend. Our fully qualified vehicle specialists will undertake a detailed analysis of what’s wrong with your vehicle, quote you the repairs necessary to get you back to working at optimal performance and then carry out the works you need on site, wherever you are.