Your car’s differential is an important part that enables your wheels to rotate at different speeds and helps maintain control during any turn. Your Mercedes is designed to be driven smoothly and to perform at its best, but if you begin to hear strange sounds or feel that the car is not driving as it should, the differential may be damaged.

When it starts to fail, you might notice noises, grinding, vibrations, or it may become difficult to steer. Failure to address the problem may prove disastrous, and you may find yourself with a car that is not safe to drive. Let’s understand what leads to differential failure and how to solve it.

What Causes Differential Failure in Mercedes?

• Low or Contaminated Differential Fluid:  Differential fluid is used to cool the gears and prevent them from overheating. If the fluid level is low or gets contaminated, then the metal gears are bound to wear out quickly and cause gear failure. The fluid can also degrade over time, and this will mean that it will not be able to provide the necessary protection to the components.

• Worn or Damaged Bearings:  The differential consists of bearings that support the gears and enable them to rotate freely. If these bearings wear out or get damaged, you will hear a whining or grinding sound, most especially when accelerating or slowing down. Failure to address the bearings results in the complete failure of the entire differential part.

• Wear on Gears:  Like any other mechanical part, the gears of the differential are also subjected to wear and tear. Some of the conditions that contribute towards the deterioration of these gears include aggressive driving, frequent towing, or carrying heavy loads. When they get worn out, they can slip or rub against each other which results in failure.

• Leaking Differential Seals:  The differential housing is sealed to retain the fluid used to cool and lubricate it. If these seals are damaged or wear out, it is possible for the fluid to leak, and this lubrication is lost. When there is no lubrication, the internal gears become too hot and wear out. Leaking seals can also pose a problem by allowing dirt and debris to contaminate the gears and cause additional harm.

• Impact Damage:  If you have hit a pothole, curb, or any other hard object with considerable force, then the differential can take internal damage. Any impact to the area may bend or crack the housing, or lead to other problems that will need repair.

How to Solve Mercedes Differential Problem?

• Replace Differential Fluid:  One of the simplest solutions for a noisy or faulty differential is to check and change the fluid. If it is low, adding some more might work for a while, but if it is dirty or contaminated, then the fluid should be changed out entirely. It is important that you always use the right type of differential fluid for your Mercedes to keep it properly lubricated.

• Replace Worn Bearings:  If the problem is from worn out bearings, they should be replaced before they lead to more severe problems. The bearings can be checked by a mechanic and any that are badly worn or damaged should be replaced. This can help to reduce whining noises and to bring back a smooth ride.

• Differential Replacement:  If the damage of the system is severe, then the differential may need to be rebuilt or replaced. A rebuild implies altering worn parts while the housing of the differential is retained. In extreme circumstances, though, you might have to go for a total replacement to correct the problem.



• Seal Replacement and Leak Fixes:  During the repair process, a mechanic will have to remove the old seals, clean the area, and then place new ones in to ensure that they seal properly.

Why You Should Come To Our Garage To Get Your Mercedes’ Differential Repaired