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Can You Still Drive with a Broken Differential?

2 Answers

VonAugust

08/31/25 6:09am

A malfunctioning differential can prevent the vehicle from moving, causing abnormal noises at best and rendering it immobile at worst. If the differential is broken and non-functional, the two drive half-shafts will be rigidly connected, forcing the left and right wheels to rotate at the same speed. This means the car can only move in a straight line and cannot turn. Phenomenon of outer wheel slipping: When turning, the outer wheel may experience slipping, while the inner wheel may spin. Even during straight-line driving, uneven road surfaces or variations in tire rolling radius—due to manufacturing tolerances, uneven wear, uneven load distribution, or differing tire pressures—can cause wheel slippage. Vehicle making noise: The most obvious symptom of a broken differential is unusual noises from the vehicle. While driving, a "clanking" sound may be heard from the differential housing, which disappears when shifting to neutral. If the differential is severely damaged, the car will only be able to drive straight and will lose the ability to turn.

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LeElizabeth

09/13/25 2:33am

Last time I had a differential failure on the highway, my car started swerving uncontrollably. Never push through with a broken differential - especially when turning, you'll hear strange clunking noises. My front-wheel-drive car could barely go straight, but the steering wheel felt like it was filled with lead, making left or right turns extremely difficult while the tires screeched from excessive wear. It's even worse with rear-wheel-drive cars - if the rear wheels lock up, you'll fishtail instantly on slippery roads. Once saw a guy drive 20km with a damaged differential and ended up shredding all the transmission gears, costing him half the price of a used car in repairs. Now whenever this happens, I immediately turn on hazard lights, pull over, and call a tow truck - that's the only safe solution.

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