A drive axle is a crucial component in every vehicle on the road. Its function is to transfer power from the transmission to the wheels. Being a mechanical component that spins very fast, any type of deformity or fault on a drive axle can cause trouble.
In this article, we’ll focus on issues with a bent drive axle, what causes this, how to diagnose a bent drive axle, what you can do to prevent this from happening, and lastly, how to fix it.
What Causes Drive Axles to Bend?
Although drive axles are made of durable materials and usually last a long time, it’s possible to bend or even snap a drive axle in a variety of ways. Most of these require an external force to be applied to the axle through extended overload or a momentary impact.
Car Accident
Being in a car accident, no matter how serious it is, can lead to a bent drive axle if you were hit from the side. This is especially true if the impact occurred near or at the wheel well. If your vehicle suffered such an impact, even a minor one, you need to check the axles for any damage as soon as possible.
Hitting a Curb
Most of us are careful with our cars. However, it only takes a moment of carelessness to push your car over the limit and catch a curb. Although you might not see any visible damage after the impact, there could be a slight bend in the axle or a major one. The latter usually implies a replacement of the whole axle and CV joint assembly.
Hitting a Deep Pothole
Potholes are a huge issue everywhere in the world. Driving at night, in rain, or generally when visibility isn’t the best, increases your chances of hitting a deep pothole. People assume that hitting a pothole will only cause damage to the wheel and tire, however, a bent drive axle is also a likely result depending on how fast you’re going.
If you’re driving around while it’s raining, or has rained, try to avoid puddles on the road. You never know what’s hiding under the surface.
How to Tell If Your Axle is Bent?
A bent drive axle will show a few distinctive signs even if it’s minimally bent, but how many symptoms you’ll notice depends on how severely bent the drive axle is.
Continuous Vibrations
One of the most common symptoms of a bent drive axle is vibration coming from a specific corner of the vehicle. After hitting a curb, running over a pothole, or having an accident, this symptom will become apparent right away.
Keep in mind that Damaged wheels or tires can also cause similar vibrations. If you notice vibrations, it’s best to check your wheels, tires, and suspension as soon as possible.
Wheel Wobble
Wheel wobble is another common symptom of a bent drive axle, but just like vibrations, it can point to a damaged wheel and tire as well. Wheel wobble is a more severe symptom than vibration, especially if the culprit is a bent drive axle. If you notice one of your wheels wobbling, it’s recommended to inspect the issue immediately.
Pulling to The Side
When a car has a bent drive axle, its alignment will also be off. This will result in your car pulling to one side, and difficulty with steering. It’s difficult to notice this while driving if the damage isn’t too severe, so having someone drive behind you can tell you a lot about the condition of your drive axles.
Odd Noises Coming From One Corner
Another symptom that’s common for a bent drive axle is hearing different types of noises coming from a specific corner of the car. Depending on which drive axle is bent, the noise can come from different sides of the car. Most commonly, you’ll hear sputtering noises, especially when turning.
What Can You Do to Prevent your Drive Axle from Bending?
Given that a drive axle won’t bend on its own, the only thing you can do to prevent it from happening is to be careful on the road. As we’ve mentioned earlier, the most common causes are impact-related, however, there’s one thing you can do to reduce the chance of getting a bent drive axle, and that’s to not overload your car and then drive it over rough terrain.
Aside from being people carriers, cars are often used for towing or hauling. Each vehicle has its towing and hauling limit, and it’s important to respect these limits. Not only will you prevent your engine from overheating, but you’ll reduce the chance of damaging your drive axle if you hit a pothole on the road.
If possible, you should avoid driving on harsh terrain, especially if your vehicle isn’t designed for off-road driving. Avoiding unknown roads at night is also a great way to prevent unnecessary damage to your vehicle.
Lastly, use the best-quality suspension components you can find. This way, you’ll have an improved ride that will be able to tackle different types of terrain.
Can you Fix a Bent Drive Axle?
Even if you have a slightly bent drive axle, it’s highly recommended that you replace it with a genuine OE component or a high-quality aftermarket one. If you own a European vehicle, eEuroparts.com is one of the best sources to find genuine or high-quality replacement parts. Check our catalog for a wide range of replacement axles that cover all kinds of European vehicles.
A bent drive axle will quickly lead to damage to CV joints, and other suspension components, so it’s best if the damaged part is replaced as soon as possible.
Get Quality Drive Axles For Your Car
The best fix for a bent drive axle is replacing it. If you’re experienced enough and don’t mind some elbow grease, you can do this yourself. You’ll need the right set of tools, time, patience, and of course, a high-quality replacement part.
We at eEuroparts.com strive to grow our product catalog with only the highest-quality automotive parts from the most reputable manufacturers in the industry. No matter how big or small the part you’re looking for is, you’ll easily be able to find it by selecting the year, make, and model of your vehicle. Once you do, you’ll find a list of compatible parts organized into categories. You can also search for parts by the part number.
