Axles

Car Axles | Everything You need to Know

An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to the vehicle, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle is supported. In the latter case, a bearing or bushing sits inside a central hole in the wheel to allow the wheel or gear to rotate around the axle. Sometimes, especially on bicycles, the latter type axle is referred to as a spindle.

Axles are an integral component of most practical wheeled vehicles. In a live-axle suspension system, the axles serve to transmit driving torque to the wheel, as well as to maintain the position of the wheels relative to each other and to the vehicle body. The axles in this system must also bear the weight of the vehicle plus any cargo. A non-driving axle, such as the front beam axle in heavy duty trucks and some two-wheel drive light trucks and vans, will have no shaft, and serves only as a suspension and steering component. Conversely, many front-wheel drive cars have a solid rear beam axle.

In other types of suspension systems, the axles serve only to transmit driving torque to the wheels; the position and angle of the wheel hubs is an independent function of the suspension system. This is typical of the independent suspensions found on most newer cars and SUVs.

Without much emphasis, we should know that axles are an important part of the wheel system. But they are a component that many vehicle owners neglect. To ensure proper vehicle maintenance, it’s good to have a basic knowledge of what the axle does and why it’s important. 

How will I know if My Car’s Axle needs Replacing?

A broken axle is often the result of overloading. However, a bad carrier bearing or even an unfortunate pothole experience can also lead to a broken axle. If you hear rumbling or feel vibrating when you accelerate or turn your car, this is a sign of an axle going bad. You might also hear loud clicking or banging when you shift gears. Most of the time, a broken axle is a hard problem to ignore.

Leaking grease underneath the vehicle or on the inside tire edge can mean a leaking axle boot, which is the rubber cover over the drive axle joint. Though a leaking axle boot does not mean that the axle has been damaged yet, inadequate grease due to the leak can cause future problems. 

Dirt can also enter a joint through a broken joint cover and cause failure to the axle joint and/or axle. Axle boots and boot clamps should be inspected regularly for splits or leaks, and they are easily visible underneath a vehicle. A leaking axle boot should be repaired promptly to avoid a more serious failure to the axle system.

Why should I install Performance Axles?

More strength, more power and better performance. That’s what Driveshaft shop axles are all about. Whether you drive a high performance street machine or a super high performance race car, a quality pair of performance axles is what you are going to need. 

Vivid Racing only carries 2 manufacturers of performance axles, Driveshaft Shop and SSP axles. There is no reason to buy anything different and there are no better axles being made on the planet today. Period. So pick up what you need today, and if you have questions regarding the performance axles you need, give us a call and we will help you pick out what you need.

Buy online or give one of our world-class professionals a call at 1-480-966-3040.