Three Signs You've Got a Broken Axle - Crossroads Automotive

Things that can break your vehicle’s axle include poor maintenance; an auto accident; hitting curbs, potholes, or bumps too hard; and overloading your vehicle beyond its weight-bearing capacity. The axle is responsible for transferring the engine’s power and transmission’s torque to the wheels. Crossroads Automotive advises you might have a broken axle if you notice any of the following three signs.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of how do you know if your axle is broken. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Excessive Vibration

If your vehicle suddenly starts vibrating excessively, one cause could be damage to your axle. For example, if you just ran over a huge rock that you couldn’t avoid and then your automobile starts vibrating like crazy, you could’ve cracked the axle or caused other vehicle suspension damage. If your car, truck, or S/CUV vibrates no matter how slow or fast you are going, increases vibrating as you pick up speed, and vibrates as you go around corners, you have axle problems and should stop driving ASAP.

Clunking Noise

If something is going on with your axle, or transmission for that matter, you might hear a loud clank or clunk when you shift your vehicle into gear and get ready to drive. If the axle is the issue, the clunking sound you hear indicates your automobile’s inability to transfer the power and torque from the engine and transmission to the wheels to get them moving. It might be that the power/torque transfer stops at the broken axle. Your transmission could be dying, as well, so call for a tow to our auto service shop.

No Movement

Finally, because the axle transfers power and torque to get the wheels spinning, a broken axle will stop your vehicle dead in its tracks. Oftentimes, what has happened is that the axle has broken at the universal joint, so even though you’re stepping on the gas and your engine is revving, the wheels aren’t turning. This is a clear sign of a broken axle and, yes, the break can occur while you’re driving, so if you notice sign one or two listed above, have your axle inspected right away to ensure it isn’t cracked.

Crossroads Automotive is located in Topeka, KS, and we’d be happy to inspect your axle and the entire vehicle suspension and undercarriage to ensure all is well. If not, we can fix it, so call us today today. If you do suspect you’ve got a cracked or broken axle, we recommend that you have your vehicle towed to our shop. Our shop’s address is 331 NW Reo Street, in Topeka.

Axles are arguably one of the most important components of a vehicle. Without a functioning axle, you won’t be going anywhere fast.

If you’re wondering how to tell if you have a broken axle, we’ve got all the answers to ensure you are fully equipped with the right knowledge to immediately detect a broken or damaged axle.

The lowdown on axles

Axles are the stabilising rod that joins two wheels together. It is powered by the driveshaft which is connected by a rod that extends from the vehicle’s transmission and engine.

The vehicle’s engine drives the driveshaft which then turns the axles and drives the vehicle forward, backward and steers left and right.

Axles are a complex and robust device designed not only to bear the weight of the vehicle but also the passengers and luggage.

They are also designed to comply with the driver’s braking and accelerating signals and is, therefore, an incredibly important component of a vehicle.

How to tell if you have a broken axle

There are a few telltale signs of a broken or damaged axle.

1. Loud clunking noises

If you’ve had a run-in with a nasty pothole or you’ve hit a curb, you might experience some loud clunking noises coming from underneath the vehicle.

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Many reports suggest bumping, clinking or grinding noises can also be a sign that your axle may be bent or broken and you will require an axle repair.

2. Grease leaking from underneath the vehicle

Leaking grease doesn’t automatically suggest that you have a broken axle, but it does suggest that there might be damage to one of the axle components such as the CV boot.

If left without repair, a build-up of dirt or loss of grease lubrication can result in significant damage to the axle.

3. Malfunctioning brakes or inability to accelerate

Even if your vehicle starts perfectly fine, you might experience problems with braking and acceleration due to a damaged axle.

If a damaged axle gets to this stage, don’t try to force it. You will need to book in for an axle repair before you’ll be moving any time soon.

4. Vehicle tyre misalignment

Another telltale sign of a damaged or broken axle is wobbling, sluggish steering and the feeling of misaligned tyres.

If you experience any signs of misalignment, you should take that as an indicator that your axle may be bent or damaged and you’ll likely need to have it looked at by a professional mechanic before you continue driving.

If you experience any of these symptoms, don’t try to continue driving your car as you’ll likely cause more damage and be a danger to yourself and those around you.

Instead, book your vehicle in for a service with a trusted and experienced mechanic.

Still not sure how to tell if you have a broken axle?

The team at Big Wheels Truck Alignment have been servicing vehicles for over 20 years and are the best in the business, so you know you’re in good hands when it comes to booking in your axle repair.

The company is the world’s best american axle benefits supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.