How Many Axles Does A Car Have With Explaining 5 Types of Axles?

How Many Axles Does A Car Have

Cars are made with different types of mechanisms and materials. But, it is unlikely for a general person to know about all of them properly. But, if you are a car owner or car enthusiast or a technician, it is a must to know about the important parts of a car. So that, if your car gets into a problem and the technician asks you to change it, you will make the proper decision in this situation.

Among all the important but rarely known parts, car axles are one of them that one must know. So, what are axles? Axles are a rolled alloy or a rod that remains between two wheels and connects them. Axles help wheels to roll or rotate. Different vehicles have various axles depending on the size and needs.

As you read more this article, you will know more about it. You will know what axles are or how it works and how many axles does a car have. Moreover, you will know how an axle operates, its works, types of axles, uses, and problems also. Then you can learn how you have to use it and how the problem can be fixed. Finally, it will help you to discern and identify the complication and the patronage of a car.

More Information About Axles

Axles are important parts of a car made from rolling rods and which help car wheels to rotate. It helps to rotate the gear, steering, brakes, and driving panel. Without these axles, cars can’t move anywhere. Those people who have cars will understand it better, but if you don’t have any, then you can understand it by looking at vehicles’ wheels on the street.

An axle demises the power of the engine to the wheels. It has to endure the weight of a car with its passengers, their inventories.  Moreover, it has to handle the force of accelerating and braking. For this reason, an axle needs to be very hardy.

Different Types of Axles

We can find two types of axles, one is a dead axle and another type is a drive axle. Now we will discuss them.

Types of Axles

1. Dead Axle:

People know this as a “Lazy axle”. It can rotate freely as there is no connection between the car engine and the axle. It helps only to support the weight of the car. The Rear-axle which is in the front wheels of a car is generally called a dead axle. These types of axles are normally used in trucks and trailers for overload-bearing purposes.

2. Drive Axle:

This axle of a car is conducted by the engine and it is connected with the driveshaft. It is a divided axle that is settled between two-half axles with mass and differential sutures. When using a joint of constant velocity (CV), then each half axle is attached to the wheel. This use assumes the wheel to rotate during turns to move smoothly in a steep way.

Besides this, there are also three types of axles found in the car. They are:

1. Stub Axles:

The front wheels are placed on the stub axles attached to the front axle for easier maintenance and control. The stub axles are made of 3% nickel steel and shaft steels containing chromium and molybdenum. It has some subcategories types they are:

  • 1. Elliot.
  • 2. Reverse Elliot.
  • 3. Lamoine.
  • 4. Reversed Lamoine .

2. Front Axles:

It is used on the front side of a car to simplify the steering and absorb the shocks that can be caused by road surface variations. This axle is a part of a dead axle which does not rotate. In construction time, it should be right and pithy. The front axle is generally a steel product which is forged having 0.4% carbon steel or 1-3% nickel steel. It has two types of subcategories; they are:

  • Live front axle.
  • Dead front axle.  

3. Rear Axles:

It is used to transmit power from the differential to the driving wheels between the differential and the driving wheels. It is clear from the construction of the differential, that the rear axle is not a single piece, but it is in two halves connected by the differential, one part is known as the half axle shaft. It has also some subcategories that are -

  • Semi-floating axle.
  • Full-floating axle.
  • Three quarter floating axle.

How Many Axles Does A Car Have?

how many axles are on a car

After discussing the basics of axles, it’s time we should know about the number of axles that a car has. The answer to this question is 4. The car has four axles or two pairs of axles, which help to rotate the wheels. However, this number varies for different vehicles, as the numbers of passengers also differ.


An easy technique for recognizing the number of axles is to look at the car by the side and count its wheels. It is an easy way to find the answer without bothering anyone with the question.

The Necessity Of Repair Or Replace The Axles

Axles are made from hardy materials, so that they can bear enormous weight. Despite being manufactured from hardy materials to bear such weight, sometimes they may fall into poor condition. After some years, this condition may get worse.

Many hazardous situations can happen which can weaken your vehicle parts as well as axles that are not out of them. Some significant signs will tell you when you need to repair or replace the axles.

  • 1. A clunking sound will be heard when putting the vehicle into gear.
  • 2. Vibrations will happen throughout the car at the time of turning and braking.
  • 3. It looks like your car is running well, but something unusual will happen when moving.

A broken axle on car may cause different kinds of problems as well as lead to more dangerous accidental problems. So, it is very much essential to identify the axle problems, and they should be fixed as soon as possible. Proper washing and repairing can sometime fix the general issue too. So, do add this to your daily task note.

Last Verdict:

Now, you have come to know the answer to the question: how many axles does a car have? Having suitable knowledge about the essential information of the components of a car might help you in the future, when there will be any problem with your one. So, from now on you will understand the problem of your adorable car and the way to solve it.

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