Crosse Auto Repair

How do you break an axle? 1. Carrying or towing much more much weight than manufacturer recommends; more than the axle can handle safely 2. Neglecting routine maintenance-- This includes shafts, gears, bearings and other parts of an axle. Your vehicle will experience metal (not mental) fatigue. One of the main reasons for metal fatigue is rusted parts. 3. Driving in hazardous conditions -- road conditions and driving through rough terrain puts weight on the axle and restricts the vehicle’s ability to rotate or turn. This video shows you what the inside of a CV Shaft/axle looks like. I found it to be very interesting. It is about 9 minutes long. ** Be sure to watch the last part of the video for some tips on when to replace the shaft/axle ... read more

Question: I hear a clunking sound from my front wheel when I make a turn. What could be the problem? Bob's Auto Service Answer: One possible cause of the problem is a worn axle. Front-wheel drive vehicles have axles that transfer power from the transmission to your front wheels. There is one for each front wheel. These axles are called constant velocity axles or CV axles for short. Rear-wheel drive vehicles have axles that are in back and run between the differential and the rear wheels. Of course, all-wheel drive vehicles will have an axle at each wheel. When a front CV axle goes bad, it will make a clunking noise as you make a slow turn. When a rear axle goes bad, the clunking or moaning sound will be in the back. Now there really isn't any preventive maintenance you can have performed to make your axles last longer, but you can have them inspected from time to time to see if a problem such as a leaking seal or torn protective boot has arisen. Sometimes finding the problem ... read more