Is It Normal for a Half Shaft to Have Oil Leakage?
1 Answers
It is normal for a half shaft to have oil leakage, and generally, replacing the oil seal can resolve the issue. If not addressed, the oil leakage from the half shaft will gradually reduce the oil level in the rear axle. Excessive leakage can directly affect the normal lubrication of the rear axle, accelerating the premature wear of components. Additionally, leaked oil often enters the brake drum, reducing braking efficiency and compromising driving safety. The half shaft, also known as the drive shaft, transmits torque from the gearbox reducer to the drive wheels. It has a universal joint at each end, connected via splines on the universal joint to the reducer gear and the inner ring of the hub bearing. Modern vehicles commonly use two types of half shafts based on their support configurations: full-floating and semi-floating. Full-floating half shafts: These only transmit torque and do not bear any reaction forces or bending moments, making them widely used in various vehicles. Full-floating half shafts are easy to install and remove—simply unscrewing the bolts on the half shaft flange allows the shaft to be pulled out, while the wheel and axle housing continue to support the vehicle, facilitating maintenance. Semi-floating half shafts: These transmit torque while also bearing all reaction forces and bending moments. Their support structure is simple, making them widely used in passenger cars with lower reaction forces and bending moments. However, these half shafts are more difficult to remove, and if they break during driving, there is a risk of the wheel detaching.
