What are the symptoms of a broken axle shaft?
3 Answers
Symptoms of a broken axle shaft: 1. Severe shaking and deviation during high-speed driving; 2. Abnormal noises when turning the steering wheel to the extreme left or right; 3. Metal friction and hard collision sounds while driving; 4. Over time, it can cause uneven tire wear. The automobile axle shaft generally refers to the drive axle. The drive axle is the mechanism located at the end of the transmission system that can change the speed and torque from the transmission and transfer them to the driving wheels. The drive axle usually consists of the main reducer, differential, wheel transmission device, and drive axle housing. The steering drive axle also includes constant velocity universal joints. The drive axle also bears vertical forces, longitudinal forces, lateral forces, braking torque, and reaction forces between the road surface and the frame or body.
Last time I encountered a bad half shaft on the highway, I noticed a strange rattling sound when turning, especially more pronounced during left turns. The car vibrated intensely when accelerating, and I could feel the shaking through the steering wheel. Upon inspection, it turned out that the drive shaft oil seal was leaking, with oil visibly dripping onto the ground. Worse yet, once while driving in the rain and making a turn, I felt the car was uncontrollable and nearly had an accident. Half shaft issues can also cause imbalance in front-wheel drive, and if left unrepaired for a long time, it can lead to accelerated tire wear and affect handling safety. I recommend getting it checked at a repair shop as soon as you notice any abnormal noises or vibrations, don't wait until it completely fails, as the repair costs will be higher then.
A friend of mine drives an old car with a broken axle shaft. He described the symptoms as severe knocking noises during acceleration or turning, like metal grinding. The car shakes noticeably when accelerating, especially feeling powerless when going uphill. He also noticed difficulty in steering wheel returning to center and an increased turning radius. Oil leakage is another obvious sign, with oil stains on the ground when parked. In severe cases, the axle shaft completely breaks, rendering the car undrivable and requiring towing. Driving with this issue is unsafe, especially at night or on slippery roads, increasing risks. Early inspection is the best approach—replacing the faulty part solves the problem, so don't ignore these early warning signs.
