Top 6 Signs of a Damaged or Broken Car Axle

A vehicle’s axle is comprised of a large bar, usually a steel transaxle or drive shaft, that connects the wheels to the steering system, engine and transmission. Power and torque are transferred from the engine and transmission, respectively, through the axle and to the drive wheels. While some axles are more complex – cars with split-axles, for instance, utilize CV joints to provide independent suspension to each wheel – but they all essentially work to do the same thing: make your car tires spin.

When a car axle breaks, either abruptly (like hitting a curb) or due to frequent overuse (like driving with too much payload), you’ll usually know there’s a problem because the tires simply won’t spin. However, there are some signs and symptoms of axle damage that might indicate a broken axle—and a visit to an axle repair shop—is on the horizon.

6. Car Won’t Budge

The most obvious sign of a broken axle is when your car tires won’t rotate. The car will turn on fine. Its engine will sound happy as a clam when you rev it. There aren’t any electrical issues—no dashboard warning lights, no weird clicking sounds. It. Just. Won’t. Move.

Why does this occur? It’s usually the result of a bent axle joint that’s finally snapped like a Slim Jim. You’ll need a tow truck to haul it to a repair shop near you for an inspection and axle damage repair.

5. Vehicle Strains

Car axles are fairly resilient, but when they’re under pressure, you’ll feel it in the gas pedal. When an axle is bent or damaged, your vehicle might begin to strain. You’ll put it into gear and notice right away that power isn’t getting transferred to the wheels (i.e. it’s slow to get going).

A straining vehicle doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a bad car axle, however. This should accompany some other signs of axle damage (below).

4. “Sputtering” Noises

Along with straining to move, the vehicle may also make sputtering, bumping or clunking sounds. This is because the axle is not able to transfer adequate power to the wheels.

These bad axle sounds will be audible when the car begins to move as well as when turning the wheels.

3. Wheel Wobbling & Vibrations

Underinflated tires, unaligned wheels and loose lug nuts can also make your vehicle vibrate. But if you notice any other signs of axle damage, don’t disregard it! Your car is incredibly dangerous to drive once you begin noticing vibrations caused by a damaged axle or other suspension problems.

2. Brake Pad Misalignment

You’ll notice some braking issues once your bent axle starts going bad. The brake pads will begin to shift and become misaligned with the wheels and rotors, and once that happens, you may notice the vehicle skids or slips to a stop. Over time, the brakes will eventually cease to function at all.

1. Leaking

The brake seal on an AWD or 4WD vehicle’s driveshaft may shift and begin to leak small amounts of oil. This will be noticeable when looking at the brake drum.

Axle CV joints can also leak grease, which is not as detectable. However, once this happens, the joints will collect dirt and dry out and deteriorate quickly.

Get Broken Axle Repairs ASAP!

What happens if your bent axle finally breaks? If you’re lucky, your car simply won’t move out of the driveway; if you’re unlucky, the wheel bearings will seize while you’re on the road, and the tire and entire wheel will fall off, leaving you with an out-of-control vehicle.

Don’t take that risk! Get an inspection at a service center or auto body shop near you if you’ve experienced any problems with your vehicle’s driveshaft or axle.

For a tow and free quote in Kansas City, contact one of our McCarthy Collision Centers or car dealerships. Dial 1-800-NEW-AGAIN to speak with a member of our team today. We have body shops throughout Kansas and Missouri, including Olathe, Sedalia, Overland Park, Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs.