What are the symptoms of a bad car axle shaft?
2 Answers
Symptoms of a bad car axle shaft: 1. There will be abnormal metal friction noises; 2. Abnormal noises when turning the steering wheel to full lock; 3. Severe vibration during high-speed driving; 4. Significant body sway while driving. The structural form of the car axle shaft affects the structure of the driving wheels. There are two types of axle shafts: full-floating axle shafts and semi-floating axle shafts. The axle shaft is an important component of the car's transmission system, used to transmit torque between the differential and the driving wheels. It is divided into inner and outer ends. The inner end is connected to the differential side gear via splines, while the outer end is connected to the wheel hub via a flange. The performance of the axle shaft directly affects the safety of the vehicle.
After driving for so many years, I've personally experienced a broken half-shaft. The most obvious symptom was a loud clunking noise when turning, which sounded particularly harsh, as if parts were grinding against each other. It got worse when accelerating—the whole car would suddenly shake violently, the steering wheel wobbled, and it felt like the vehicle was about to fall apart. Once, while taking friends on a trip, the car swayed uncontrollably on the highway, making us all nervous. Fortunately, we managed to pull over in time. Delaying repairs could also lead to wheel slippage or differential damage, doubling repair costs and risks. Now, I regularly inspect the suspension system to catch any issues early and save myself trouble.
