To put it simply—your car may not be drivable if it has a broken axle! Because car axles are constantly rotating and flexing to accommodate different road conditions, they can wear out, resulting in weak and failing axles. Also, if your car struts or shocks (whichever one your vehicle has) are wearing out and aren’t protecting the axles, hitting a bump or pothole in the road can result in a broken axle. The fact is, however, that axles are built for strength so most drivers won’t actually keep a vehicle long enough for axles to break.
So although you may not have a broken axle, the condition of your car axles plays a large role in how well the wheels and suspension system of your vehicle can keep doing their job. The axles not only link the power from the engine to the tires, but they also carry the weight of the entire vehicle and assist in driving, steering, and braking. An axle that is going bad also puts extra stress on the car struts, causing them to wear out faster than normal and adding excessive wear and tear on the tires. Unfortunately, replacing car struts, shocks, tires, or axles can be quite costly.
There are three major indicators of how to know if you have a broken axle:
- You cannot drive your car (power cannot be transferred power from the engine to the wheels).
- A clunking sound heard when shifting into gear.
- Excessive vibrations can be felt throughout your vehicle while driving.
What can cause axles to break, you ask? Every vehicle is manufactured with a maximum load capacity. Overloading your vehicle with too much cargo or too many passengers puts extra stress on your car struts and axles. And as your car ages, the axles become brittle or rusty, diminishing their strength. The axles on an older vehicle with higher mileage are more prone to breaking so try to avoid driving on bumpy roads or hitting potholes or other obstacles in the road.
Wondering how to know if you have a broken axle? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about car struts, shocks, and axles, and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.
To put it simply—your car may not be drivable if it has a broken axle! Because car axles are constantly rotating and flexing to accommodate different road conditions, they can wear out, resulting in weak and failing axles. Also, if your car struts or shocks (whichever one your vehicle has) are wearing out and aren’t protecting the axles, hitting a bump or pothole in the road can result in a broken axle. The fact is, however, that axles are built for strength so most drivers won’t actually keep a vehicle long enough for axles to break.
So although you may not have a broken axle, the condition of your car axles plays a large role in how well the wheels and suspension system of your vehicle can keep doing their job. The axles not only link the power from the engine to the tires, but they also carry the weight of the entire vehicle and assist in driving, steering, and braking. An axle that is going bad also puts extra stress on the car struts, causing them to wear out faster than normal and adding excessive wear and tear on the tires. Unfortunately, replacing car struts, shocks, tires, or axles can be quite costly.
There are three major indicators of how to know if you have a broken axle:
- You cannot drive your car (power cannot be transferred power from the engine to the wheels).
- A clunking sound heard when shifting into gear.
- Excessive vibrations can be felt throughout your vehicle while driving.
What can cause axles to break, you ask? Every vehicle is manufactured with a maximum load capacity. Overloading your vehicle with too much cargo or too many passengers puts extra stress on your car struts and axles. And as your car ages, the axles become brittle or rusty, diminishing their strength. The axles on an older vehicle with higher mileage are more prone to breaking so try to avoid driving on bumpy roads or hitting potholes or other obstacles in the road.
Wondering how to know if you have a broken axle? Contact our ASE Certified Technicians at Gary’s Quality Automotive for more information about car struts, shocks, and axles, and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves vehicle owners in Grand Island, NE, Wood River, NE, and Doniphan, NE.
