Axle Repair

Axles are extremely important to your car—they are often an integral part of the steering system and can be considered on par with brakes and tires when it comes to the safety of your vehicle. Axles connect to the wheels and bear the weight of your entire vehicle.

Ensuring your axles are in good shape can be critical to the safety of your vehicle. That’s why it’s so important to visit your local Fast Tire to make sure your axles are well maintained and inspected on a regular basis.

Understanding how axles work…

Most of us think of an axle as a bar between two wheels, or a straight axle, like you find on a train car or a little red wagon. The truth is, most axles are far more complex.

Today, most axles are split axles, which means the wheel on each side is attached to a separate shaft. This allows independent suspension of the left and right wheels, and therefore a smoother ride. It also permits the left and right wheels to rotate at different speeds as the automobile turns, improving traction and extending tire life. This is what’s known as the differential.

Many cars combine the transmission and the axle to create the transaxle. In rear-wheel vehicles, the engine is connected to a driveshaft, which turns the drive axle in the back of the car.