Tucson Differential

Tucson Differential, Your one-stop differential shop.

Tech Tips

Check for True...

You would be suprised how many differential housings are actually bent. Typically, this happens from overloading the vehicle in some fashion. For example, jumping, running over curbs, rollovers, high horsepower, and more can cause an axle to bend or twist. Prior to doing any work on your axle, make sure that you have your axle tube checked for "true" to ensure you don't damage any of your components.

There are several ways to check an axle tube and it's housing for true... The best way is what you see here in the photograph. Tucson Differential has a specially made, 100% straight steel rod that is inserted into the differential, through custom-made shims, which will show whether or not the axle is bent. We feel that this is the best way to check and axle for true.

Prior to any service...

The proper rebuild or upgrade starts with the housing. Every housing should be thoroughly cleaned to remove oil, grease, debris, rust, contaminats and so on.

There are several solvents and cleaners to choose from, most of which can be purchased at your local auto-parts store. We suggest a 3-stage cleaning process that you should use prior to any undertaking. First, drain the fluids and remove the items that will be rebuilt, replaced or upgraded, then inspect for any damage after thoroughly cleaning with a light solvent.

Second, clean the axle tubes and carrier housing the same way. Be sure to use a soft or medium bristled brush (A bottle neck and a paint bursh will work just fine) that you can dip into a light solution, inside a coffee can. Be liberal with the solution and clean any nooks and crevices very well. Once the light solution has dried, we recommend spraying the entire inside of the carrier and axle tubes with carb cleaner or brake parts cleaner to remove any final, small particles. Be liberal with this as any residue or grit left behind can lead to premature damage or failure down the road.

Third, and lastly, use dry, compressed air to blow out the inside of the differential housing and axle tubes. If you are planning to store your axle housing for any length of time, you should wipe down the inside and outside of your differential housing with motor oil, as this will prevent rust.

If you expect long life from your setup, take the time to clean it.

Changing your diff fluid...
Preventative Maintenance is always a good idea when it comes to your differential. We recommend changing the gear oil every 25,000 miles under normal conditions, ie: daily driving, stop and go etc. The 4wd guys should do that more often especially if they go through deep water, in fact if you suspect you got water in your diff, change it as soon as possible, same holds true for the boat guys who back their boat trailers into the water while launching. For the people who tow, I recommend every 12 thousand miles, because of the heat generated while towing heavy loads, can break down the gear oil and cause pre-mature wear. While you are draining your diff, look for any wet spots around the diff, that could indicate a leaking seal and you can arrange to have that replaced, a job that is best left to the pros. Also find the diff breather vent, almost all of them have one, make sure it is working, pull it off and clean it well, the diff must breathe or it will vent itself through one of the seals.