How Many Axles Does a Car Have?

Cars are almost a necessary part of our daily lives. But, some people know nothing about cars; they can be first-time buyers – who own a car for the first time, freaking out, “how many axles does a car have”?

So, in recent days, there’s been a misconception revolving around the number of axles an average car has.

In fact, the design is evolving every other day to provide you with more comfort, but the number of axles remains the same.

Passenger cars have two axles (set of two axles), one for rear wheels and the other for front wheels.

Moreover, you can easily count the number by looking at the car from the side and counting the number of axles without bothering someone with a question like this again!

So, What’s the Role of An Axle?

Axles are the key component of any wheeled vehicle. This simple yet elegant mechanism allows for smooth and easy rolling of wheels.

Furthermore, it is the main component of a wheeled vehicle and supports the wheel. It transmits the torque from the wheel hub to the ground, making it a necessity, or you can say a car won’t move without an axle.

This article will help you understand the different types of axles and how they are used in the different vehicle types.

Three Main Types Of Axles On A Car?

Down the road, you’ll get to know that there are three main types of axles;

• Front axle
• Rear-axle
• Stub axle

Front Axle

The front axle of your car is often referred to as the front axle assembly or front axle assembly. Also, it is responsible for turning the tires and the front wheels to allow the car to steer and drive.

Furthermore, this type of axle is considered a part of the suspension system in the car, and it’s responsible for carrying the engine, transmission, and front suspension. It is typically made up of a number of different parts, including the spindles, suspension arms, hubs, and tie rods.

Stub Axle

A stub axle (shortened: stub) is a type of vehicle axle used on front-wheel drive vehicles. It is used when the steering mechanism is not in front of the axle (such as in front-wheel drive vehicles).

Most commonly, stub axles exist in two types – a stub axle integrated into the axle drive of the front wheel. And a stub axle that is connected to the front axle drive via a driveshaft that is located behind the front axle.

Rear Axle

The rear axle is the axle that transmits power to the rear wheels. Like the front axle, the rear axle is also one of the most important vehicle systems, as it carries the weight of the vehicle and the weight of the passengers.

Another thing, it is also responsible for sending power to the rear wheels either through a differential or through a limited-slip differential. Mostly, rear axles are live, meaning they move with the car (rotate with the car’s wheels.)

Can You Drive With a Broken Axle?

Straight and simple, No! You can’t drive with a broken axle. In fact, a car won’t go straight if the bearings are gone or your car’s axle is bent. Usually, a broken piece pulls one side of the vehicle, which ends up involving you in a major or minor accident (depending upon your speed).

So, don’t you dare to drive with a broken axle!

The Right Time To Repair/Replace Your Vehicle’s Axles

Axles are comparable to spine bones in humans. When injured, they might fail to support the body properly and render it weak.

So you should repair or replace your axles at regular intervals if they wear out earlier than expected.

Typical signs that indicate worn out and damaged axles include a visible wobble, grinding noise while driving, and loss of control over steering.

However, you need to repair/replace the axle if;

• You hear a clunking sound while changing the gear.
• Feel vibrations with sounds while turning or braking.
• You suspect something unusual while roaming in your car.

Again!!! A broken axle can lead to more serious problems. The axle problem should therefore be identified and fixed as soon as possible.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace An Axle?

Money is the biggest factor everyone considers when it comes to replacing an axle. So, rear axles are cheaper than front ones because these are just iron rods or carbon steel rods connected to your rear differential.

You can easily purchase one for not more than $150 anywhere, but it depends on the model and manufacturer as well.

However, you’ll not find ordinary iron rods in modern cars, especially SUVs and larger vehicles. Instead, the manufacturers use axle CV shafts, which are a bit costlier.

Front-drive cars are most likely to use these CV shafts. Differential shafts are more advanced and unique than the traditional axles placed inside the differential housing.

Furthermore, these shaft includes bearings and other unique items, making them expensive and increasing their price to $300/set.

On the other hand, if you’re out of budget, find a suitable pair in the second-hand parts market. You could find a genuine and cheaper piece – but you will need to have a subtle knowledge of axles to identify the condition unless – whether it’s reusable on your car or not or you will end up buying a bad axle.

We suggest that going with new parts will help you in the long run because these last longer, making them a lot cheaper.

It’s very uncommon to see a person is changing the axle every other year, even unless you love off-roading (uneven surface) or drifting.

Conclusion

How many axles does a car have? – As already told, you can quickly identify this by looking at a vehicle from the side and checking out how many tires it has.

Basically, the number of tires defines the number of axles. Luckily, it is beneficial to have a thorough understanding of your car’s essential components and key functions if you have any issues with it in the future.