Joint Axle
Joint Axle I have a 2003 volkswagen passat and CV Boot has failed they have to replace right and left axle joint? So I went for some maintanence recently at the dealership and they told me they h...
Joint Axle
Listen to your Car
The human senses are of huge help in everyday living. Practically speaking, because of their huge importance in one’s life, one cannot live without it.
One typical example of the essence of these senses in is when having a car trouble. Often times, drivers do not really know what the problem is until such time that the car breaks down. Because of man’s sense of hearing, car troubles are detected.
Most of the noises heard on the car are squeaks, screech, squeals, rattles, rumbles, ping, heavy knock, clunch and the like. You should take note that once you hear either of these sounds or the like, your car is already giving you a clue as to it problem that you need to pay attention to.
A squeal is a shrill, sharp noise. Once this occurs, it means the engine speed is in trouble. Your vehicle may have loose or worn parts such as power steering, fan or air conditioning belt.
A click is a small sharp noise that usually point out either the engine speed or the vehicle speed. This means your vehicle may either have loose wheel cover, loose or bent fan blade, stuck valve lifter or low engine oil.
A screech is a high-pitched noise. It is usually heard while the vehicle is in motion or running. It sounds like piercing a metal. This sound is a hint to tell the driver that brake maintenance is needed because it is brought about by the wearing of the brake.
A rumble, as compared to a screech, is a low pitched rhythmic sound. This is caused by defective car parts such as exhaust pipe, converter or muffler. Sometimes, it is also caused by universal joint or other drive-line component that is already worn.
A ping is also a pitched sound but it sounds like tapping a metal. Like a squeal and a click, it may also imply an engine speed problem. Often times, this noise is caused by fuel with a lower octane rating than the manufacturers’ recommended one. In this case, your owner’s manual is a huge MUST. Read it and check the appropriate octane rating for your car. If you want, you may switch to a different gas octane or gas station. But if trouble still occurs, the problem could be the engine ignition timing. If you are in doubt of this problem, go see a mechanic.
A heavy knock is a rhythmic pounding sound. This could mean crankshaft or connecting rod bearings that are worn out or not properly tighten transmission torque converter.
A clunk is a random thumping sound. This noise could imply loose shock absorber or other suspension component and exhaust pipe or muffler.
If noise problems still persist, another culprit could be the axle assembly. It could be malfunctioning or damaged. Because SUVs, pick up trucks usually go off-road or pass through harsh and uneven terrains they are the vehicles that mostly encounter this problem.
A vehicle axle is an important auto part that also needs to be taken cared of. It is a load- bearing assembly that joins two wheels on opposite sides together. This may be a combination of an axle shaft, one or two constant velocity joints or a U-joint maybe. It is built in order to pass on rotational force that is coming from the transmission to the wheels of your vehicle. It is usually present on front and four-wheel drive auto mobiles as well as on many high-end, rear-wheel drive European import cars.
Transaxle is the most well known type of axle. It usually comes with a differential and a manual or automatic transmission.
Drive axle is another common type. It is also known as live axle and has the differential.
The not so well known type is the non-driving straight axle. This axle connects the wheels together though it does not have the differential.
Car axles do the job of keeping up the position of the wheels relative to the body of the vehicle and to each other. It is a fact that the wheels are the only car parts that touch the ground. And because of this, the axles bear the weight of the vehicle that includes the weight of the passengers and the cargo, if there is any. They also carry the forces of acceleration between the vehicle and the ground.
Vehicle axles have different purposes depending on their complexity. A simple straight axle’s job is to attach point of the wheels and at the same time bear the weight of the vehicle. The drive axle does the same task, but they also give the abilities of differential torque transfer. A transaxle does all the mentioned jobs of the drive axle plus the capabilities of transmission gear-changing.
So if hear some grinding noises, your car problem could be the axle assembly. This means it is not functioning properly. In this case, it is better to replace it. Or if you do not want to alter your Mazda axle assembly earlier than you want or need to, better maintain it properly.
Noises are undesirable whatever their forms are. So in case you hear noise coming from your car, do something about it.
About the Author
Kraig Johanssen is a native of Connecticut and holds a degree in Software Engineering. He now works at a software development firm in Alabama. His love for writing and great interest on cars makes him a proficient contributing author to various automotive magazines.