How Many Axles Does a Car Have? Types and Functions Explained
If any person were to think of a car, he or she probably would relate it to the image of an engine, wheels, or probably the steering wheel. Ever thought about what connects those wheels and makes any car move? It would be the axles. Axles are kind of central in a vehicle. Probably you might wonder how many your car possesses. Let us explain this topic so that it becomes crystal clear.
What Is an Axle?
You can basically think of an axle as a kind of backbone to your vehicle’s wheels. A strong metal rod or shaft connects the two wheels on either side of the vehicle. Now, for just a moment, think about riding on a seesaw at a children’s playground. In that sense, you could think of a long board on which you sit as almost being something like an axle. Imagine two wheels as two children seated at both ends. Everything is balanced when the seesaw teeter-totters around, and the axle just keeps right on working.
In the case of an automobile, an axle does so much more. Besides being used to keep the wheels together, it also is a means by which energy input from the engine is transmitted to the wheels, thereby propelling the car forward. Without axles, you couldn’t even drive your car at all!
Types of Axles
Not all cars will have the same axles; they may even be different in one car. Following are the main types of axles that one might come across:
- Front Axle: This is located in the vehicle’s front. It performs the steering function and, at times, also carries part of the engine weight. Though in front-wheel-drive cars, this implies the front axle transmits power from the engine to the front wheels.
- Rear Axle: The rear axle is located at the rear of your vehicle. It transmits power to the rear wheels. It is that part where the power an engine generates is delivered in order to push or propel a vehicle; thus, it becomes very important in a rear-wheel drive car.
- Stub Axle: A small axle projecting to each of the front wheels from the main front axle. It kept these wheels in a head position and caused them to easily rotate; therefore, it made the turning around the car easier. Think about the door hinge, which lets the wheels pivot and travel easily.
- Drive Axle: This axle is responsible for actually turning the wheels. Your car may be front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive-based. If it’s one of the latter two, the drive axles would be at the back rather than up in front. In an all-wheel-drive car, both axles can act as drive axles.
What Factors Determine the Types of the Axle in a Car
Axles come in different designs and configurations, depending on a variety of factors from one vehicle to another. Some of the major ones include the design of the car, the purpose, and the type of terrain that the car is going to face. Discussed below are some of the things that determine what type of axles the car shall have:
- Drive Type: This applies to whether the car is front-, rear-, or even all-wheel-drive. In the front-wheel drive, there would be an axle up front that not only steers but also powers the wheels. In case of the rear-wheel-drive car, most action happens at the back.
- Weight of the Vehicle: The heavier ones, such as trucks and sport-utility vehicles, need more heavy-duty and sometimes even an extra axle to bear the extra load. The heavier a vehicle is, that much more will be the support required from the axles.
- Terrains: Note that if it is to run on rough or uneven roads, then it goes without saying that it will have more axles to bear stresses and movements. Off-road vehicles need more sturdy axles to take bumps and jerks on stone-rimmed trails.
- It also depends upon the purpose of the car. Those cars designed and fabricated to run at fast speeds, for instance, sports cars, can have axles that are tuned for high performance and high acceleration. Those off-road running vehicles may have axles made to sustain rough and uneven terrains.
Does a Car Have 1 or 2 Axles?
Most automobiles have two axles. Now, imagine an ordinary car; most of the time, there is usually one in front and one at the back. Each axle takes two wheels on opposite sides of the car; hence, the front axle will be connected to the front wheels and the back axle to the back wheels.
Now, if you are driving a regular car, you will have two axles working away to keep you moving down the road without a care. In fact, for most passenger cars—a sedan, hatchback or coupe—this is the typical set-up.
Do Cars Have 4 Axles?
A common car would rarely have four axles. This is quite common in heavier vehicles, such as trucks, buses, and commercial vehicles, which call for more wheels to hold their heavy loads together and, at the same time, need more power. Since every axle can be said to be a framework that supports merely a pair of wheels, so with the number of axles in a vehicle, so would its number of wheels be added, therefore adding more stability towards power.
However, most cars that run low require just two axles. You can find the larger vehicles, like the trucks, run with three or occasionally even four axles, but your everyday car do not need this much to move you from one place to the other.
How Many Axles Does a 4-Wheel Drive Have?
The name is a misnomer; most 4-wheel drive vehicles have two axles, no different from regular cars. However, unlike the regular cars, the difference that takes place in a 4-wheel drive is that the vehicle is motorized by the engine applying power to all four wheels. Since it enables a car to get greater grip and control, this comes in handy on slippery roads and in the snow, and while driving off-road.
Although all four wheels are powered, the vehicle still normally only has two axles—one up front and one in back. Therefore, whether you drive on tarmac or through mud, those two axles work together to keep you moving.
How Many Axles Do SUVs Have?
They call them Sport Utility Vehicles, and basically, they are made to be able to take a bit more of a rougher ride than would be doled out to an ordinary car. They do everything from daily commutes to off-road ventures, yet most only have two axles—an axle in the front and another at the back.
Some even have all-wheel drive or, better still, 4-wheel drive, which helped them to be capable of sending power to all of their four wheels if an event could occur. But just like most cars, they still maintain this two-axle setup. This makes them strong, stable yet practical to drive.
How to Know How Many Axles Your Car Has
Now, if you have any doubt about how many axles are in your car, you will know it right away by doing the following:
- Count the Wheels: Every car runs on four wheels. One axle connects most cars in each pairing of wheels most of the time. That means, if your car has four wheels, it must come fitted with two axles.
- Type of Drive: If you do remember whether your vehicle is front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive, then you would be able to take an excellent guess about where the axles might be. In a front-wheel drive vehicle, the power is turned into the front wheels through the front axle. In a rear-wheel-drive, the power is turned into the car’s rear wheels through the rear axle.
- Poke Around Under the Car: With more experience and adventure you are surely feeling after safely parking and switching your car off, try looking underneath it. You might be able to see the axles that connect the wheels to the body of your car.
Conclusion
How many axles does a car have? Most of them come fitted with two. These two axles form an integral part of steering, supporting the weight of the car, and having all the power from the engine fed through to the wheels. Heavier vehicles, like trucks or buses, sport more axles to handle heavy loads; however, your average car, SUV, or 4-wheel drive has only two.
Then, next time in that car, you will be thinking of those axles clocking extra hours to keep you moving on the road and in as pleasant and safe a manner as possible—whether you are flying down the highways or negotiating a tight curve. The axles are there, watching your back, and are at work guiding you safely to your destination point.
