Car drive joints - how to ride without damaging them

Repairing a driveshaft is usually expensive. To avoid them, check the condition of the articulation covers and do not drive aggressively.

There are two main types of drive joints: external and internal. The first are located next to the gearbox, the second - near the wheels.

In most cars, the drive is transmitted to the front wheels. To make this possible, the cardan shafts must end with articulated joints, which at the same time - in addition to transmitting power (torque) - allow the driven wheels to rotate. Each drive shaft ends with two hinges.

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On rear-wheel drive vehicles, swivel joints allow torque to be transferred between the final drive and the drive axle.

How to care for drive joints?

These elements have a long service life and it is difficult to determine how long they need to be replaced. The service life depends on the driver himself - his driving style - and the condition of the rubber boots on the hinges. Breakdowns usually concern front-wheel drive vehicles, where the hinges have to be loaded at a large angle. Under such conditions, their strength is reduced.

– One of the causes of damage to the universal joints is the sudden start of the car with the wheels turned out, especially when they slip in place – says Piotr Burak, Service Manager for Skoda Pol-Mot Auto in Bialystok. - The joints in this case are subjected to high loads. It is true that nothing terrible should happen after a few times, but you must remember that the life of the joints is shortened.

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Another reason for the failure of cardan joints of cars is the poor condition of their rubber coatings. They are not hard to damage. It is enough to drive a car through the forest or run into branches several times to break the shelter. Rubber ages and presses, so its resistance to mechanical damage decreases over time.

A broken cover oozes articulation oil, sand, mud, water, and other debris picked up from the road while driving. Then even a few days are enough for the joint to collapse and be suitable only for replacement.

And it won't be cheap anymore. If we find such a defect in time, we will pay PLN 30-80 for the cover in workshops, depending on the make and model of the car. Its replacement should be made for about PLN 85. In addition to replacing the cover, apply new grease and clean the hinge.

However, if we are forced to replace the entire hinge, the costs can be several times higher. The operation itself is not complicated, so it will be inexpensive - up to 100 zł. Worse with paying for a joint. It costs from 150 to 600 zlotys. In ASO, the price can jump up to a thousand zlotys, because the mechanics will charge the hinge with the axle shaft.

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Avoid big expenses

It is easy to check the condition of the drive hinge covers. It is enough to turn the wheels as much as possible and check for cracks, distortions or cuts in the rubber. Wherever your eyes can't see it, use your fingers to make sure it doesn't leak grease. Of course, it is most convenient to check on a canal or a lift. Therefore, each time the car is serviced in the workshop, it is necessary to check the connections, or rather the condition of their covers.

Rejection symptoms

In the case of external hinges, i.e. located closer to the wheels, the main cause of concern should be a knock in the hub area when adding gas with the wheels completely inverted or crackling. Over time, the hinged basket will break, as a result, its contents will simply fall apart, the car will not go and you will have to call a tow truck. Despite the gear being engaged, the wheels will not move.

It must be remembered that connections, like any consumable part, are subject to wear. So don't expect them to last the lifetime of your car.

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“As for the symptoms of failure of the internal hinge, we will feel a specific beating, vibration of the entire car during acceleration,” explains Petr Burak. - It rarely happens, because the outer hinges wear out more often, but it happens. 

In summary: Apart from checking the condition of the protection of the drive joints and the correct driving style, there is nothing that the driver can do to extend the life of the joints. There are also no recommended drain intervals.

“We only do this when we hear signals indicating that they are not working,” confirms Paweł Kukielka, head of service at Rycar Bosch in Białystok. – These elements are also usually not repaired. There is always an exchange that takes an average of one to two hours. There are specialized factories that repair seams, but often the cost is higher than buying a new replacement.

Remember:

* do not add gas abruptly with tightly turned wheels,

* Check the condition of the drive joint covers monthly,

* each time the car is inspected at the service, ask the mechanic to carefully check whether the covers are in proper condition,

* a broken connection cap must be replaced immediately before the connection is damaged,

* symptoms such as rattling or knocking in the area of ​​\uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbthe hinges while driving should be a signal to visit the workshop, otherwise we risk immobilizing the car. 

Text and photo: Piotr Walchak