You may have memorized the basics of vehicle maintenance, such as getting your oil changed and having your tires rotated, but cars are composed of numerous parts that should be taken care of. Words such as "differential" may sound like a foreign language to those who aren't auto-savvy, but the professionals at Friendly Transmission Service in High Point, NC, will quickly explain what differentials are and how to maintain them the right way.

First of all, you're probably wondering what a differential is and the purpose that it serves. A differential consists of gears situated in the middle of the axle that assists your wheels in making turns. Though you may not realize it in the moment, any corner you take makes the outside wheels have to rotate just a little faster than the inside wheels. Which axle a differential is on aligns with whether you have a front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive vehicle.

Differentials are built to be durable and long-lasting, but that doesn't mean they can go without maintenance. They have to be properly lubricated to give you efficient, trustworthy performance. The fluid levels in differentials should be routinely checked, or they may get too low and cause the gears to overheat.

The driveshaft is the piece that connects the transmission with the differential in rear-wheel drive vehicles. On cars that are front-wheel drive, a driveshaft is not necessary because the transmission and differential are combined. Driveshafts should be well-greased at regular intervals for best results. Some experts have said that, if you only use your car for day-to-day driving, you should lubricate your driveshaft every 8,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.

At some point, differentials need to be replaced or transmission maintenance is required. That's when Friendly Transmission Service comes in. Their team is skilled at automatic, semi-automatic, and manual transmission repair, and they're willing to tackle all kinds of maintenance issues. Give them a call today at (336) 882-1164 or visit their website to see a list of all their services.