Several weeks ago, my car slipped on ice and crashed into a thick brick curb and by the looks of it, my axle is broken (it‘s hanging) and when I finally got my car towed, when it was lifted in the air, the axle was visibly hanging low. My concern is whether or not a broken axle involves my car‘s transmission line. I‘m able to put the car in all it‘s gears (reverse, neutral, drive.1 and 2) but the car won‘t budge. I‘ve read an article online of a person who encountered the same problem as me, and the answer was something like if the axledrive is broken, the transmission will not work. And with a lot of older cars, they are like a closed circuit and if one part is not functioning, the rest of the car will not run. If possible, I‘d like a knowledgeable answer as to whether I can just replace the axle and the car will function to some extent. ha ha. Thanks all
the drive axle is the mechanical link between the transmission and the wheel, there are usually 2 of them, one for each wheel, also there is a differential inside the transmission which equalizes the force between the 2 wheels so that the car will go in a straight line and also so the tires don't skid when you turn. if one axle beaks the differential will equalize zero force and the other wheel will not tun either so the car will not move, replace the axle and unless something else is damaged inside the transmission which there is little likelihood of you will be ok
If you have it a curb and broken the axle you will most likely have some bent and damage front end parts as well. And of course the wheels alignment.
You have 2 axle shafts. One to each front wheel. They both have to be connected for the car to work(otherwise you won't go anywhere) Consider it to be half of the driveshaft. You need the whole shaft to go. Let them fix it at the dealer. There is nothing wrong with the transmission however putting on the CV joint bolts and having them stay on(without them undoing themselves) can be a bear. And you need metric tools. Seems to me that it was in the process of undoing itself as those bolts are high carbon steel. If anyone has ever worked on the axle before(say replacing a CV joint or boot or pulling the transmission) those bolts will undo themselves unless done right. I think I do them right when I do them only to find out later after regular driving 1000-3000miles that some are loosened off completely. They are fussy. All in all it should take them a half hour if nothing else is damaged. But as you hit the curb, the wheel alignment will now be out and have to be done.and maybe a wheel rim and tire? It will take longer to do the whole thing.(of course)
