With a broken axel, your car won’t be moving much of anywhere. You need your car up and running to go to work, pick your kids up from school and take the occasional trip out of town. It’s a hassle to have your vehicle down! When it comes to axle inspection, the mechanics at G&G are your source for professional, knowledgeable service. An easy way for you to tell if you need to see us for axle repair is to go out to a large space (such as a parking lot), and slowly drive in tight circles. If you hear a clicking or cracking noise, you have a worn joint and it must be repaired immediately. We will have you back on the road, “click-free” in no time! Axel and drive shaft maintenance and repair are incredibly important not to ignore. These moving parts are load-bearing, and are what carries you and your precious cargo where you need to go.

The axle on your vehicle is the structural component that connects two wheels together. It’s a load-bearing assembly that acts like a central shaft, maintaining the position of the wheels relative to each other and to the vehicle body. The construction of your axle is designed according to what your vehicle is built for. Trucks and off-road vehicles are equipped with axles that keep the wheel positions steady under heavy stress (ideal for supporting heavy loads). Conventional axles are constructed for the needs of the general consumer. No matter what you drive, remember that the axle must bear the weight of your vehicle (plus any cargo) and the acceleration forces between you and the ground.

Here is a brief description of the most common axle design:

Drive/CV Axle

Simply put, a drive axle is one that is driven by the engine. Typically found in modern front wheel drive vehicles, a drive axle is split between two half axles, with differential and universal joints between them. Each half axle is connected to the wheel by a third joint—the constant velocity (CV) joint—that allows the wheels to move freely. This joint allows the shaft to rotate, transmitting power at a constant speed without a significant increase in friction and heat. CV joints are usually dependable, but, as is the case for all of your vehicle’s moving equipment, they do require regular inspection.