Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

Axles

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Your axles are the last link in transferring power from the engine to your wheels.  They’re strong parts that last a long time – but they can run into trouble.

Axles just wear out over time and need to be replaced.  And sometimes axle seals leak, causing the axle to wear out prematurely.  Lubricant leaks out, and water and dirt can get in and contaminate the gears.  When this happens you might hear strange noises coming from your axle.

If you have a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the sound would be up front.  Of course, with an all-wheel drive, the sound could come from either front or back.  It might be a groaning sound or clunking when you’re turning.

There are different kinds of axles, each with their own potential problems.  Your service technician knows this and checks for things like leaking seals, torn CV boots, and worn axle joints.  An inspection will reveal if there are any problems or if a part is nearing failure.

When there is a concern with the axle shaft, it will be removed and inspected.  If it’s damaged, the shaft will have to be replaced.  If the shaft is in good shape, it’ll be cleaned, lubed and reinstalled.  Damaged CV boots are replaced as well.

It’s important to take care of this work as soon as you become aware of a problem.  Waiting only makes the damage worse and more expensive to repair later.  If the axle fails completely, it could lock up.  This could severely damage other things like your transmission – which is very expensive.  It could also contribute to an accident, which nobody wants.

Taking care of your axles when they need it saves money in the long run, and helps keep you safely on the road.

Axles

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The axle assemblies in your vehicle transfer power out to the drive wheels.  On the rear-wheel drive vehicle, there is an axle shaft that goes from the differential in the center of the axle to each of the rear wheels.  On the front-wheel drive vehicle, the axle shafts go from the transmission to each front-wheel.  All-wheel drive vehicles have axle shafts connected to all four wheels.

Axle assemblies are pretty tough parts: they transfer torque from the engine to the wheels to move the vehicle.  Tough as they are, they are still subject to normal wear and tear.  The axle shafts are in a sealed housing with lubricant that protects the axle shaft.  When there is a leak anywhere in the axle assembly, lubricant gets out and dirt, water and other contaminates can get in.  This can greatly accelerate axle wear.  If an axle assembly fails, you’re not going anywhere.

A worn or damaged axle assembly on the front will make a clunking sound during low speed turns – often just when turning one way.  A worn rear axle also makes noise but may be more difficult for the driver to hear.  Also, if you see any oily leaks around your wheels, have them checked out.

If you have a bad axle assembly, your Express Car Care technician can make the repair.  It is often more cost effective to replace an axle assembly than it is to take it apart and rebuild it.

If you are hearing strange sounds coming from your front or rear wheel area, have Express Car Care inspect your vehicle.  We can determine if it is an axle problem or perhaps a worn steering, suspension or brake component.

Axles

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AxlesQuestion:
I hear a clunking sound from my front wheel when I make a turn.  What could be the problem?

Express Car Care Answer:  One possible cause of the problem is a worn axle.  Front-wheel drive vehicles have axles that transfer power from the transmission to your front wheels.  There is one for each front wheel.  These axles are called constant velocity axles or CV axles for short.  Rear-wheel drive vehicles have axles that are in back and run between the differential and the rear wheels.  Then there are all-wheel drive vehicles which have an axle at each wheel.

When a front CV axle goes bad, it will make a clunking noise as you make a slow turn.  When a rear axle goes bad, the clunking or moaning sound will be in the back.  No, there really isn’t any preventative maintenance you can have performed to make your axles last longer, but you can have them inspected from time to time to see if a problem such as a leaking seal or torn protective boot has arisen.  Sometimes finding the problem early will make the repair easier and less costly.

Of course, axles do wear out and need to be replaced.  This is dangerous and should not be put off by drivers, because a severely worn axle can seize up causing damage to your transmission or other components.  This could even lead to an accident for any driver who ignores a worn axle.

If you suspect an axle problem, have it looked at right away.  Ask your friendly and knowledgeable service adviser at Express Car Care if it’s time for your axle to be replaced.

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