Front Differential Assembly Cleaning and Inspection

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2003 Saturn Vue. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Fig 1: Inspecting Front Differential Assembly

Courtesy of GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Clean the front differential assembly in solvent and air dry.
Inspect the front differential ring gear for the following conditions:
- Chipped teeth
- Excessive wear
- Metal debris embedded in the teeth
- Abnormal wear pattern
Inspect the pinion gears and the side gears for damage or excessive wear.
Inspect the tapered roller bearings for the following conditions:
- Excessive wear
- Pits
- Brinneling
- Bent cages
On AWD models, inspect the splined stub shaft for excessive wear or damage.
If any of the above, conditions are found replace the front differential assembly. The front differential assembly is serviced only as a complete assembly.