Racecars require regular maintenance if you want them to perform at their best — you can’t win a round if you’re experiencing mechanical issues. A center section is one of those parts that has to be looked at regularly to prevent major issues. In this video from Moser Engineering, you’ll learn what kind of maintenance program you should follow with a 9-inch rear end center section.

There are plenty of obvious signs that there could be trouble inside your center section, from leaks to terrible metallic grinding noises. To really keep the wheels turning on your racecar you need to go beyond these in-your-face issues and examine the center section outside of the rear end.

The first thing you should always do is drain the fluid and look it over to see if there are any signs of excessive wear or imminent failure. When you’ve removed the center section, it’s time to go over it with a fine-toothed comb looking for any problems. You’ll want to pay close attention to the condition of the ring and pinion gears to see how they’re holding up, since they are exposed to the largest amount of abuse. After the gears get a clean bill of health, it’s time to check all of the bolts to make sure they’re tight and determine if any of the seals are leaking.

Your center section maintenance schedule should be based on how much horsepower the vehicle is making. Now, if you don’t feel comfortable going over the center section yourself, you can send it to Moser and they’ll check it out. Make sure you watch this entire video to hear other tips from host Rocky Van Note, and check out Moser’s website right here for more information.