Is an axle the same thing as a driveshaft
#1
Is an axle the same thing as a driveshaft
I have a 1989 Toyota Camry 4cyl .I was hit in the front right above the driverside tire.I have replaced both front struts because they were bent.But I am still having trouble with my steering.There is alot of play in the steering wheel.I took it to a shop and they said it needed 2 new drive shafts.Are they the same as axles and would the cardrive at all if they were broke?
#2
In a front wheel drive car the axles are essentially the driveshafts.
If one actually breaks, the car won't drive, but they may be excessively worn or bent. I had to replace the front axles in my wife's '95 Camry at about 120,000 miles due to wear, so yours probably need replacing at any rate.
If one actually breaks, the car won't drive, but they may be excessively worn or bent. I had to replace the front axles in my wife's '95 Camry at about 120,000 miles due to wear, so yours probably need replacing at any rate.
#3
The axles on a front wheel drive car are CV (constant velocity) type axles. It is different than a rear wheel drive car's set up.
If it got walloped like that, you may have bent a spindle, wiped out a bearing, bent the rack and pinion, a tie rod or bent the unibody/mounting surfaces.
I suggest you bring in the car to a competent alignment shop/repair shop and have them go through the whole car to make sure the chassis is square. Replacing parts, and aligning things on a tweaked frame will always put you behind the eight ball and is a waste of time and money (and can be dangerous).
How bad of a hit are we talking about? Did you have it checked by a body shop for frame/unibody damage?
If it got walloped like that, you may have bent a spindle, wiped out a bearing, bent the rack and pinion, a tie rod or bent the unibody/mounting surfaces.
I suggest you bring in the car to a competent alignment shop/repair shop and have them go through the whole car to make sure the chassis is square. Replacing parts, and aligning things on a tweaked frame will always put you behind the eight ball and is a waste of time and money (and can be dangerous).
How bad of a hit are we talking about? Did you have it checked by a body shop for frame/unibody damage?
#4
Additional note, though. Excess play in the steering wheel I wouldn't think would be an axle problem. More likely steering rack, ball joints, or other parts with direct relationship to steering. Joe? Might consider consulting a body shop if you haven't already. They are experts in that sort of thing when related to crash damage.