Does Replacing the Rear Axle of a New Car Have a Significant Impact?
2 Answers
Replacing the rear axle of a sedan has a significant impact on the vehicle. The following is an introduction to the effects of replacing the rear axle on a sedan and the role of the rear axle: Effects of replacing the rear axle on a sedan: The rear axle of a car affects the four-wheel alignment data, and some cars adjust the wheel data based on the rear axle; deformation of the sedan's rear axle or bending of the rear axle shaft causes the car to not only concentrate the load on the inner side of the inner tire's shoulder during driving but also reduces the tire's contact area with the ground, increasing the pressure per unit area and accelerating the wear of the inner tire. At the same time, the car sways from side to side while driving, causing the tire shoulders to wear into a jagged or irregular pattern. Role of the rear axle: The power transmitted from the clutch, gearbox, and driveshaft is passed through the reducer to reduce speed, increase torque, and transmit this torque to the driving wheels via the half-shaft; it bears the load of the car's rear axle; transmits the reaction force and reaction torque from the road surface to the frame through the leaf spring; during driving, the rear wheel brake plays the main braking role, and during parking, the rear wheel brake generates the parking brake.
Oh, replacing the rear axle on a new car is no small matter. My buddy's SUV got rear-ended last year, and the insurance company insisted on replacing the entire rear axle assembly. At first, he was worried about structural issues, but after four months of use, he felt it was almost identical to the original. The key is that the repair shop must use genuine parts and perform wheel alignment adjustments after installation—otherwise, minor issues like uneven tire wear or major problems like instability at high speeds could arise, compromising safety. I’ve heard some shady repair shops might use recycled parts, and those aftermarket components could deform or develop noises over time. Additionally, replacing the rear axle leaves a repair record, which could lead to heavy price cuts when selling the car later—but it’s still better than selling it as a salvage vehicle, right?
