How Many Axles Does A Car Have?

How many axles are in a car? What even are axles on a car, and what kind of axles are there? Here’s a comprehensive guide.

Have you ever wondered how many axles a car has? Well, the answer’s quite straightforward. A standard passenger vehicle almost always has two axles.

These shafts are what link the forward wheels together and the back wheels together.

Although it might sound like a fundamental question, there’s much to consider about axles. For instance, what counts as an axle? This has changed somewhat over the years as technology has progressed.

So, yes, a vehicle almost always has two axles.

This guide will explain all the complexities you need to know to understand how they work.

What Are Axles On A Car?

An axle is a shaft attached to the center of a spinning wheel. The wheel can either spin with the axle or around it.

Usually, an axle is a simple rod that joins two wheels. Envision the creations you built in elementary school using LEGO or Erector/Meccano. These sticks were used on old cart or horse-and-carriage systems.

The sturdy shafts sit in the axle housing. This protects it and helps to bear the vehicle’s mass.

The same principle applies to cars, but there are now numerous different axle types. A significant drawback of the original format is that each wheel is impacted by what’s happening on the contrary side.

All manufacturers design their cars with independent, powered wheels and suspension. This maximizes car control, making driving more secure.

Axle Terminology

In FWD vehicles, the front axle is operational, while in RWD vehicles, the rear axle is functioning.

Here are a few expressions you might encounter in this article and when discussing the number of axles a vehicle has.

• Front axle – an axle connecting the two front wheels.
• Rear axle – an axle connecting the two rear wheels.
• Stub axle – used for the front wheels (for steering).
• Live (or “driven”) axle – a live axle turns with the wheels, transferring power to them.
• Dead (or “non-driven”) axle – does not transfer power to the wheels – it simply connects them to the car.
• CV axle/driveshaft – “Constant Velocity,” by far the most popular kind of live axle. There are two CV shafts per live axle (confusingly).
• Differential – a “diff” isn’t directly part of the axle shaft. Still, it does connect across the same two wheels, allowing them to rotate at different speeds when necessary.

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• In a front-wheel-drive car, the front axle is live while the rear is dead.
• Likewise, in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, the front axle is dead, and the rear is live.

Four-wheel-drive vehicles have two functional axles (in the front and rear), however, the transfer case can render one of them – often the front – inactive.

All-wheel-drive typically utilizes a front-wheel-drive setup most of the time. When necessary, the rear axle can become engaged, delivering temporary power. It then returns to its inactive state.

What Are Live And Dead Axles?

All axles are either “live” or “dead.” Whether it’s the front, rear, or neither depends on the drivetrain. Front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive, and four-wheel-drive all make a clear distinction, obviously.

• Live axles transfer power straight from the transmission into the front wheels, forming part of the drivetrain.
• Dead axles are found on the front of rear-wheel-drive cars and vice versa. They’re simply responsible for holding the wheels on the car, distributing the car’s weight, steering (in a RWD setup), and keeping vehicular control. As such, they aren’t part of the drivetrain.

What Are Floating Axles?

Car axles usually come in “floating” variations. You’ll typically find a semi-floating or three-quarter floating rear axle in regular cars. However, some bigger trucks and racecars might have fully-floating models.

• Semi-floating axles are essentially one unit. The shaft connects to the flange onto which you place your rotor and wheel. Inside the axle housing, bearings connect it to the shaft.
• Three-quarter floating axles are a sort of happy medium. A wheel hub is bolted onto the outside of the axle housing, like in a fully-floating model. However, it’s rigidly attached, keeping the whole system tighter.
• Fully-floating models are when the axle shaft connects to a separate wheel hub. It’ll have between 31 and 40 splines on its end to intersect with the hub. The wheel is then placed on the hub itself, bolted onto the outside of the axle housing.

What’s The Difference Between Types Of Floating Axles?

Full-floating axles are ideal for heavy vehicles, off-roading, and racing. They allow the car to absorb and control much more force (including complete weight), meaning the flange/wheel hub doesn’t bend.

In extreme situations (such as those in prolonged journeys and track days), the flanges on semi-floating axles can warp, leading to a temporary loss of brakes. Not so great!

• In technical terms, a semi-floating axle has to handle the car’s weight, forces from the side (cornering), and driving torque.
• In three-quarter axle setups, the vehicle’s weight is borne by the axle housing. This means the shaft only has to deal with torque and side loads.
• Fully-floating axles only need to handle driving torque.

As such, fully-floating axles are the strongest and most effective at transferring power to the wheels. They’re also the most expensive to build, so you’ll usually only see them on sports cars, off-roaders, and trucks.

What Is A CV Axle?

A Constant Velocity axle is responsible for propelling the wheels in the powered axle(s). CV axles are most frequently known as driveshafts.

They allow rotational torque force to be transferred at angles. Each driveshaft has two CV joints to transmit the power from the transmission to the wheel.

Although it still counts as one axle, there are two driveshafts to each wheel across it. They meet at the transmission. One drives the right wheel, the other the left.

The most frequent problem with CV joints is the rubber boot splitting or tearing. When this happens, they leak grease, and grit and debris can enter. If this occurs, you’ll need a new boot to prevent the CV joint from eventually seizing.

What Are Stub Axles?

Stub axles are connected to the front and rear axles, and wheels are attached directly onto them.

At the front, to allow for steering, the stub axle is hinged to the steering knuckle, with a kingpin forming the pivotal point. In turn, the kingpin is mounted on bushes on the end of the brief axle.

Ball bearings are incorporated in the wheel bearing to prevent damage while rotating.

On the car’s inert axle, mock axles simply attach the wheels to the vehicle to distribute the weight. Two synthetic axles allow for independent suspension.

There are four types of stub axle:

• Elliot stub axle
• Reverse Elliot stub axle
• Lamoine stub axle
• Reverse Lamoine stub axle

There’s no need to understand these diverse stub axles in any great detail for now.

How Many Axles Does My Car Have?

Almost every automobile in the world comes with four wheels spread across two axles. The only exceptions are significantly modified vehicles.

Remember, the axle is (in fundamental terms) the rod that connects a pair of wheels across (transversely) the vehicle – that is, across one “axis.”

Some commercial pickup trucks and many semis come with four or even six wheels per axle. They better distribute the vehicle’s weight and improve traction. However, there’s still only one axle linking them all.

Look at one side of your vehicle. How many sets of wheels can you see? Most likely, two. That’s how many axles you own.

How Many Axles On A Car: Conclusion

**A modern front-wheel-drive car will have two axles**: one at the front and one at the rear. **However, yes, they’re technically made up of four incomplete-axles**.

The live axle will always have two half-axle driveshafts taking power from the transmission to the wheels. The inactive axle (if there is one) will have two stub axles to allow for autonomous suspension.

It’s not worth getting bogged down on the technicalities, although it is useful to know. So far as everyone is concerned, we can continue to refer to cars as having two axles. Simple.

Notice any clattering sounds coming from the wheel area of your car or see substantial steering/tire wear issues? The axle might be the problem.

**Take your car straight to a mechanic, driving cautiously**. Diagnosing and fixing the problem now might save you lots of money in the near future!