Although the axle doesn’t seem like much, it is an important mechanism within your vehicle. If it breaks, it can cost you a lot of money and is a large part of why your car moves forward or backward. It allows the engine to push your car into motion.
There are many warning signs when there are axle problems. These are great to know because the axle breaking can damage your vehicle to the extent that it could be totaled. This is the worst-case scenario, but there is an increased chance of this part malfunctioning than if it were the alternator or another smaller part.
When you find these common axle issues, you can talk to a mechanic for them to check it out before things get worse. Here are the common axle issues you will want to look out for:
- Clicking or crunching noises
- Vibration
- Grease on the wheels
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Clicking or Crunching Noises
Sometimes you may hear a clicking or crunching noise when driving. If you hear it from the wheels while you turn, this may be caused by the joints and needs to be looked out for. If you are on uneven terrain or your car is dirty, this could be the cause, but to ensure it isn’t anything more, you may want to have a professional look at it.
Vibration
Vibrating is never really a good sign. If to ensure it isn’t anything more, you hit a specific speed, you may have vibration, but it shouldn’t affect your vehicle terribly. Don’t jump to the conclusion that your axles are immediately the fault, though. There are other minor issues that you can inspect first. Here are some other things to check before assuming it is the axles:
- Flat tire
- Deformed tire
- Unbalanced tires
- Loose bolt on the tires
It is good to get your tires inspected first before assuming your axles cause the vibration. If your tires are good to go, the cause may be the axles.
Grease on the Wheels
The joints of your axles have a rubber cover that is supposed to keep the grease contained. The grease is necessary to reduce friction within the parts. If cracks form, the grease will begin to leak out and fall into your rims and tires. If you see this, then you need to see a mechanic quickly. You may only have enough grease to get you there, and it will save you money.
What Happens When the Axle Breaks?
When your axle breaks, it isn’t a good thing. Hopefully, the axle breaks in the safest way possible, but usually, this occurrence is quite drastic. You may lose control of the vehicle and have a collision.
The best-case scenario is to catch any breaks before the axle completely breaks. And if the axle does break while you are driving it, you can simply pull over to the side of the road. You will not be able to drive your car when the axle break because there is no way for your car to move forward with a broken axle.
Fixing the Problem by Replacing the Axle
The axle is a large and important part of your vehicle. It depends on what type of car you have and its year. Overseas vehicles will be expensive, while less expensive brands will be cheaper. You will be looking anywhere between $500 and up. It could even reach several thousand dollars.
You can find used parts in a junkyard, but you would have to do the labor yourself or hire someone. Hiring someone will still cost extra money, and changing the axle is not an easy task. It may be easier for you just to send your vehicle to a trusted mechanic.
The length of time to replace an axle is all dependant on who is fixing it and what tools they have readily available. If a mechanic doesn’t have any other appointments and already has the replacement parts, it should only take a day, but many other factors can lengthen this.
Sometimes parts aren’t easy to find, and you may have to wait for the part to come in. The mechanic may be swamped with other vehicle repairs. Other problems can be found during the repairs, and those need to be fixed too. It just depends on the situation.