Four Common Symptoms of a Broken Axle Shaft
An axle is a rod or shaft that rotates the wheels and supports the weight of your vehicle. Axles are essential components of any vehicle—if they break, it's a major repair.
Wobble or Vibration
When you've bent or broken an axle shaft, like the one shown above, one of the first signs you'll notice is a slight wobble at lower speeds. At higher speeds (typically 20 mph and up) the wobble may turn into what feels more like a general, light vibration but, as the bend gets worse, the vibration will become more and more apparent until the entire car shakes as a whole.Visible Misalignment In The Tires
A damaged axle will also often cause a visible misalignment in the mounting of the tires. You may not feel a difference in how the vehicle handles, but other drivers may notice the tires visibly wobbling back and forth. As the problem gets more serious, the wobbling tends to become more apparent, and more dangerous, so repairing the axle as soon as you notice is very important.Sensitive Brakes
If wheel wobble becomes more severe, the brakes can also start to malfunction as the brake pads slowly become misaligned with the wheels and begin to drag on the rotors. You might sense that the brakes are sensitive or lagging—another good sign that your axle needs attention.Read More: 5 Signs and Symptoms of A Leaking Axle Shaft