Axles are one of the most important components that make up your vehicle. They serve to transfer the power created by the engine and the torque from the transmission to the tires. This is what makes your car move! Although axles are very sturdy, they are vulnerable to damage because of their location under the car. There are several conditions that can cause axles to weaken or break, such as:
- Overload. When the load exceeds the weight limit of the vehicle, such as too much cargo, towing heavy trailers, or too many passengers, the axles may not have enough strength to hold the weight.
- Metal fatigue. Especially prevalent in older vehicle models, high mileage vehicles, or vehicles that carry excessively heavy loads, the axles can become brittle and/or rusty.
- Road conditions. Going over bumps and potholes too fast adds stress to the axles that are already carrying the weight of the vehicle.
So how can you tell if your axle is broken or damaged? Here are the most obvious signs you will notice:
- Wobble and vibration – You will feel the “wobble”, especially noticeable at lower speeds (under 20 mph). At a higher speed, you will feel more of a vibration.
- Visible Misalignment – Even though there might not be a difference in how your car handles, a damaged axle can often cause a misalignment of the tires which can be noticed by other people outside the vehicle as you drive down the road.
- Brakes – As the bent axle makes the wheel wobble, this leads to malfunction of the brakes. The brake pads will become misaligned with the wheels so that the self-adjuster does not function correctly, and the pads end up dragging. A bad axle shaft can also cause the outer brake seal to leak, coating the brake drum in oil from the gears and dust from the brakes.
- Suspension System – The car struts or shocks will be impacted as they will be trying to carry the weight of the vehicle.
- Car Can’t Move – The most obvious indicator of axle trouble is that your vehicle simply cannot move even though it runs just fine and shifts into gear. This is often caused by an axle that has bent or snapped near the universal joint.
If you are noticing any of the signs above, have your vehicle checked out as soon as possible. As the problem gets worse, it will become more and more difficult to steer and to break. Don’t be the cause of an accident!
Need to know how can you tell if your axle is broken? Contact our ASE-certified technicians at Rebel Automotive for more information about failing car axles and car struts and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Henderson, NV, Las Vegas, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV.
Axles are one of the most important components that make up your vehicle. They serve to transfer the power created by the engine and the torque from the transmission to the tires. This is what makes your car move! Although axles are very sturdy, they are vulnerable to damage because of their location under the car. There are several conditions that can cause axles to weaken or break, such as:
- Overload. When the load exceeds the weight limit of the vehicle, such as too much cargo, towing heavy trailers, or too many passengers, the axles may not have enough strength to hold the weight.
- Metal fatigue. Especially prevalent in older vehicle models, high mileage vehicles, or vehicles that carry excessively heavy loads, the axles can become brittle and/or rusty.
- Road conditions. Going over bumps and potholes too fast adds stress to the axles that are already carrying the weight of the vehicle.
So how can you tell if your axle is broken or damaged? Here are the most obvious signs you will notice:
- Wobble and vibration – You will feel the “wobble”, especially noticeable at lower speeds (under 20 mph). At a higher speed, you will feel more of a vibration.
- Visible Misalignment – Even though there might not be a difference in how your car handles, a damaged axle can often cause a misalignment of the tires which can be noticed by other people outside the vehicle as you drive down the road.
- Brakes – As the bent axle makes the wheel wobble, this leads to malfunction of the brakes. The brake pads will become misaligned with the wheels so that the self-adjuster does not function correctly, and the pads end up dragging. A bad axle shaft can also cause the outer brake seal to leak, coating the brake drum in oil from the gears and dust from the brakes.
- Suspension System – The car struts or shocks will be impacted as they will be trying to carry the weight of the vehicle.
- Car Can’t Move – The most obvious indicator of axle trouble is that your vehicle simply cannot move even though it runs just fine and shifts into gear. This is often caused by an axle that has bent or snapped near the universal joint.
If you are noticing any of the signs above, have your vehicle checked out as soon as possible. As the problem gets worse, it will become more and more difficult to steer and to break. Don’t be the cause of an accident!
Need to know how can you tell if your axle is broken? Contact our ASE-certified technicians at Rebel Automotive for more information about failing car axles and car struts and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop serves vehicle owners in Henderson, NV, Las Vegas, NV, and North Las Vegas, NV.
