Tips of Axle assembly
2010-01-18

       Are you bothered with the grinding noises that your vehicle generates? Better inspect the vehicle’s axle because you may have a defective or damaged axle assembly. This type of damage is commonly encountered by those SUVs, pick up trucks and other vehicles that usually go off-road or regularly pass through harsh and uneven terrain. The axle assembly is usually found on front and four-wheel drive vehicles and even on most high-end, rear-wheel drive European import cars.        Axle assembly is the load-bearing that connects two wheels together on opposite sides. Generally, there are three types of axles used on most vehicles. The first and the most common axle used in vehicles is the transaxle. The axle is encases an automatic or manual transmission and a differential. This transaxle is bolted to the engine and has the advantage of being an extremely rigid unit of engine and driveline components. The complete engine transaxle unit may be located at the front of the vehicle (front wheel drive) or at the rear of the vehicle (rear wheel drive). The second type of axle is the drive axle, sometimes referred to as a live axle, which contains the differential. This drive axle is a split axle with a differential and universal joints between the two half axles. Each half axle connects to the wheel joint which allows the wheel assembly to move freely vertically as well as to pivot when making turns. The third type of axle is the non-driving straight axle, this axle is basically a straight beam that connects the wheels together, but has no differential. 

       Axles are significant structural components of a wheeled vehicle. They are responsible for keeping up the position of the wheels relative to the body of the vehicle and to each other. Since the wheels of almost all vehicles are the only components that touch the ground, the axles do the job of bearing the vehicle’s weight, plus the weight of any cargo. Axles also carry the acceleration forces between the ground and the vehicle. And because vehicle axles differ in complexity, their purposes also vary. A simple straight axle serves as attachment point of the wheels while bearing the vehicle’s weight. The drive axle does the said purposes, plus they give the differential’s torque transfer abilities. A transaxle does all the tasks of the drive axle along with the transmission’s gear-changing capabilities.

        If you found out that your vehicle’s axle assembly is malfunctioning and creating grinding noises, better have it replaced at soonest time possible. Replacing an axle assembly is not as difficult as you may think. For front-wheel drive cars , and for some rear-wheel drive cars, this can be a do-it-yourself job. You will want to review the repair manual of your vehicle to decide, based on your own mechanical skill, whether you feel comfortable tackling this project yourself.

       A common repair that often must be done after general wear on a vehicle is the replacement of a CV joint. In many cases, it makes good financial sense to replace the entire axle assembly instead of repairing the joint alone. Since replacing a CV joint can be a labor-intensive job, it may also be easier to replace the entire axle assembly. Doing so will save time and thus cut labor costs-you can often replace the entire assembly for the same cost as replacing only the joints. This will, however, depend on how much your mechanic charges you-unless you decide to attempt the installation on your own.

        New axle assemblies generally come with fresh CV joints and boots already installed, so you do not have to buy both the assembly and the joints. Since the entire assembly works through the boots, it is important that all parts are well-maintained and work in harmony with one another.       Again, read the installation instructions for your vehicle's make and model. If you are fairly comfortable working on your own car , then this may be a project that you want to tackle yourself. Doing so would save you the money you would otherwise pay a mechanic.

        An axle assembly is used mainly in front-wheel and four-wheel drive cars to transfer power from the transmission to the wheels. Most rear-wheel drive cars do not use an axle assembly, though there are a few exceptions, primarily high-end German sports cars. One reason that CV boots and axle assemblies fail, is due to the access of debris and contaminants. Debris can get inside of the boot if the boot comes loose or becomes cracked. When this happens, CV joints will quickly degenerate and fail.  

      If you own a four-wheel drive vehicle and take it off-road on a regular basis, you are more likely to experience problems with debris getting inside of the seals. This is even more common if you like to go 'mudding' and do not wash all of the mud out from the undercarriage of your vehicle.  

      Choosing a manufacturer for your new axle assembly is important. For many vehicles, you can go with OEM or aftermarket parts. If you own a specialized vehicle like a Bertone, you will want to go with Bertone parts, because keeping original Bertone parts would help to maintain such a vehicle's value. 

       If maintaining all original-brand parts is not important to you, then you have many choices when it comes to replacement manufacturers. Many of these aftermarket replacement parts can be found at a lower price-sometimes of a higher quality, as well. When buying auto parts, it pays to shop around and find the best quality and price. 

       Most of the time, a new axle assembly will come with a solid warranty, so that you do not have to be concerned about part failure in the immediate future. It is important as both a buyer and a mechanic to be selective and to get the right part the first time. Doing so will prevent having to remove newly-installed equipment, because it is not the right one for your vehicle.

        Research and investigation can help you determine the best replacement parts for your vehicles. And using the internet to make your purchases will allow you to save a lot of money, while improving the quality of products you are able to buy within your budget.