Transmission Repair in Clay County

Axles Service and Repair in Orange Park, Forida 32073

What is a Car Axle?

 An axle is a simple yet remarkably important part of your vehicle. In olden times, when wheeled vehicles were first being produced, an axel was little more than a straight bar with two wheels on either end of. These days, a functioning axle is necessary for brakes and steering to all be properly aligned with the wheels of your vehicle as well.

 The axle of your vehicle spins so that the wheels of your car can spin. Power is transferred from the engine and torque from the transmission of your vehicle through the axle to drive the wheels. Depending on the kind of vehicle you have there are a number of components from driveshafts to transaxles that are a part of this whole system, including things like suspension as well. But at the end of the day, the purpose of the axle is to allow your wheels to move along with the power that is being put out by your engine. If the axle doesn't work, your car doesn't work.

 Symptoms of a Bad Car Axle

 A number of things could cause one of your axles to go bad in your vehicle. The most common cause for this kind of damage is an accident or impact. Either you hit another vehicle or ran into something, or more commonly you run afoul of a serious speed bump or pothole, or maybe even some junk in the road. Because your axle is right above the ground, any sort of uneven surface could potentially lead to your axle getting damaged and bent.

 Though rare, it's also possible that a manufacturing error could be the cause of your axle bending. If the metal wasn't heat treated properly when the axle is produced, it will have weak spots in it. That means even normal wear and tear that it should be able to stand up to, could cause damage and cause it to break.

 For instance, in 2019 Ford had to recall nearly 30,000 F-250 and F-350 trucks because of a defect in the rear axle shaft that could result in an accident. According to Ford, improper material Handling during the bar stock cooling process at the axle shaft material supplier cause the problem.

 In 2007, GM issued a massive recall for over 250,000 Saturn, Pontiac, and Cadillac models that needed repairs to a rear axle seal that had the potential to leak and cause the car to lose control and crash. So, there are manufacturing errors that can risk the Integrity of your axle, on top of the potential for outside damages. Whatever the cause, these are some of the symptoms you should be on the lookout for.

 Uneven Driving:

A bent axle will greatly diminish the alignment of your vehicle. Your axle needs to be ruler straight to be working properly. When that axle shaft gets bent your two wheels on either end are no longer properly aligned. That means that while you are driving, even if you're keeping the steering wheel straight your vehicle is going to drift to one side or the other, or wobble. It can be hard to figure out which wheel is responsible while you're actually driving. Oftentimes, the best bet if you're noticing this happening but aren't sure where it is occurring, is to drive while somebody else takes a look at your vehicle so they can see which wheel seems to be misaligned.

 Leaks:

There are joints called CV joints located at the end of your axles near the wheels. When they are damaged, the grease inside that lubricates them will leak out. Unlike your normal oil leaks, these will be focused right around the wheels to give you an indication that it's a CV joint and not another oil leak we're dealing with here. If you're seeing oil or grease on the tires themselves, or pulling around the tires, then this is almost certainly a leak in your CV joint. You only have a shirt. Of time before the lubrication is gone completely, and the damage increases.

 Vibrations and Shaking:

If your ride have become seriously bumpy when you're driving, especially if you're noticing the vibrations coming through the steering wheel into your hand, then there's probably a problem with your axle or the alignment of your vehicle. You know that your steering wheel shouldn't be vibrating for any reason, so this is a good early warning sign that you need to have something looked at as soon as possible.

 Noise:

If you're noticing unusual clunking or clicking sound as you drive along this could be the result of a bent axle misaligning your wheels. The friction of parts rubbing together is likely causing the noise. A loud ticking noise will especially be prevalent when you are turning if your axle is bad. This is a result of the joints loose and hitting together when you make a turn. If you turn more sharply or faster, it will likely be louder.

 Total Failure: 

What we've listed so far are symptoms of a bent but still functional axle. If the bend in your axle gets too bad, or breaks entirely, you are definitely going to notice. Your car will be utterly incapable of moving if your axle is completely broken. It's also possible that you will have collapsed either the front end or the back end where the axle broke, as it's no longer able to properly suspend your vehicle above the ground.

Repair or Replace a Bad Axle?

 It's natural to wonder if you can repair a part rather than replace it entirely, perhaps in an effort to save a few dollars. With a car axle however, this is not an option at all. A bent car axle could be bent straight again, but it will always have that weakness in it. Think about bending a thin rod of metal in your hands. You can bet it in half and then try to straighten it out again. But that initial band is always going to be a weak spot. It will never be as strong as it was when you first had it, which means even the general stress of normal operation could potentially cause it to bend again in the same place. If you have a bad axle, it definitely needs to be replaced.

Is it Safe to Drive on a Bad Axle?

 Your car axle is a fairly strong piece of metal for the most part. When it does get a bend in it, there's a good chance it will just be a minor bend, and only slightly affect the alignment of your vehicle overall. The symptoms we mentioned will be noticeable but won't impede your ability to try. The vibration in the steering wheel, the wobble in the wheels causing you to pull in one direction or another.

 The fact that you still can drive with this problem doesn't mean that you should drive with this problem. The longer you put stress on a bent axle, the more likely it is that you're going to end up breaking it. A broken axle while driving could be catastrophic and lead to a serious accident that hurts yourself or others. It could also end up causing you a lot more money in terms of the potential damage.

 If your axle breaks while driving, you will no longer be able to control your vehicle. That's definitely not worth the risk. When you lose control on an icy road, you still have the chance to regain control. When your axle has broken there is nothing you can do from that point.

 Bring your vehicle to our professional, experienced and knowledgeable technicians atTRANSMISSION HEROto receive expert axle repair and service. You’ll be back, safety on the road, in no time!

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