The driveline is possibly a less popularly known but very important part of a diesel truck. The driveline system includes all the gears and axles needed to ensure that your truck moves smoothly and efficiently. To put it simply, the driveline shifts power (torque) from the engine and transmission to your wheels. Torque is the measure of how much a force acting on an object will cause that object to rotate. The extreme loads placed on your differential can, unfortunately, lead to excess heat and wear.
The driveline system is found under the hood of the truck and is made up of many parts, which include:
- Transfer Case
- Axles
- Driveshaft
- U-Joints/CV Joints
- Differential gears
Differential gears are devices for transmitting rotary motion smoothly. These gears are used to move wheels at an even speed when the vehicle turns corners, enabling different speeds on two wheels when travelling over a bumpy surface. The modern differential usually has a ‘friction’ clutch inside the casing to provide a limited-slip action when required.
A driveshaft is a rotating shaft that uses universal joints to transmit torque from one location to another. On trucks, these are used in unison with doublings and U-joints to transmit the torque from the engine to the rear axle. If and when one of these components fails, you will need immediate professional help. Our knowledgeable and talented technicians will be able to resolve all of your driveline concerns.
Driveline concerns in a diesel engine can transpire in a variety of ways. Some of these include:
- Faulty axles and universal joints
- Icing on the oil pan gasket or ring
- Pinion gear failure issues
Common solutions and services for driveline problems
We think it is important to flush out your front and rear differential fluid. It is common knowledge that your truck needs a regular oil change, but not everyone knows that their differentials also require service. Differentials are more complicated than many people acknowledge.
Your differentials are located at the end of your vehicle’s power train. It depends on your vehicle’s drive setup, but differentials take power from the transmission and split it between each tire on the front or back axle.
The differentials work hard, and as a result, their gear oil breaks down, growing thick and less effective at transferring power. Water generally tends to collect in the housing at this time, resulting in rust. The result of this can cause distress to the gears inside, leading to pitting, scratching, stove piping or complete failure.
When our team services your differential, our technicians will drain the fluid and replace it with fresh, new fluid with a universal viscosity. Getting a differential inspection is useful because it will reveal if there are other problems such as cracked housing or damaged gears, which we would also be happy to fix separately for you.