What You Need to Know About Your Axles

If you’re not a “car person,” you probably don’t give a lot of thought to your car’s axles. Like most of your car’s parts, however, making sure they’re properly maintained and repaired is important to your vehicle’s safety and functionality. You’ll also avoid more costly repairs down the line. The best way to avoid worse damage is to bring your car to AAA Sandoval Transmission for axle repair in Hanford, CA—we’ll identify the source of your problem and get it fixed fast.

What your car’s axles do

Axles support the weight of your car and transfer torque from your engine to your wheels, which makes them essential for steering, braking and driving in general. If your axles are malfunctioning, it will affect your ability to drive the car.

The two basic types of axles are the driveshaft and the dead axles. The driveshaft axle connects with the engine by way of the transmission. The engine itself turns this rod. Meanwhile, the dead axle turns when the vehicle is in motion (controlled by the driveshaft axle), but it doesn’t connect to the engine itself. The dead axle’s main purpose is to help support the weight of your car (as well as any passengers or cargo).

Because axles bear a lot of weight, it’s common for them to suffer cracks and other damage when a vehicle is particularly overloaded. You might also damage them by driving over bad potholes and curbs, or if your carrier bearings are malfunctioning.

Signs of axle problems

Here’s how to tell if your axles might be damaged:

• Vibration: You might be dealing with a broken or bent axle if you find your car vibrating badly while driving, especially at slow speeds and during turns. If you recently drove over a pothole, curb or other road obstacle, you should let your repair technician know that you suspect an axle issue.
• Sudden clunking sounds: Are you noticing sudden clunking or clanging when you try to put your car into gear? This is an indication of axle joint damage—your transmission can’t transfer power or torque to the wheels because there’s too much slack in the axle joints.
• It just won’t move: This is the biggest indicator of axle damage, since their main job is to help spin the wheels. Assuming your car starts up fine and you can put it into gear with no issue, you’re most likely dealing with a bad axle.
• Leaking grease: Finally, if you’re leaking grease underneath your car or on the inside tire edge, you may have a broken or leaking axle boot. Your axle probably isn’t damaged, but you’ll want to get it checked out as soon as possible to prevent damage.

Axle repair in Hanford, CA

You can trust AAA Sandoval Transmission with all of your auto repair needs, from transmissions to axle repair in Hanford, CA. Our skilled team is available to work on your vehicle and deliver fast, friendly and affordable results. Find out why we regularly help customers from as far away as Corcoran and Coalinga when you call or stop by today.

Categorised in: Auto Repair Services

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