Experiencing problems with your truck’s axle? The truck axles, just like ordinary car axles are very important parts of the truck. Here, we will show you some 4 signs your truck’s Dana 44 front axle is failing and how to mend it.

The axle is a vehicle part that conveys engine power to the wheels. So, ultimately, power generated from the transmission ends in the tires through the axle. As the axle rotates, the wheels also move. That’s exactly how critical axles are in a truck!

Driving a truck is so much therapeutic. Experienced drivers will reliably tell you that there is practically nothing comparable to it: At least not in this life; afterlife? Maybe.

But the joy of driving is found when the vehicle parts mutually decide to work in perfect harmony. So when something like the truck axle interrupts this harmony, you should get concerned. Given the critical functions it performs, you’ll not only have to stop the truck but also climb down the sidesteps and dive right under it to check the problem.

You are probably asking yourself how you can know axle failure. Brilliant, that is what we discuss next.

Let’s just get this out of the way. Axles are quite burly and probably one of the most hardened car parts. Secondly, it is placed underneath the truck to ensure minimal contact with obstructions or even other motorists.

But this does not mean they are safe from breakages. Far from it!  In fact, while truck axles are strong and hidden, they are quite a target for bad bumps or potholes on the road. In the worst case scenario, breakages may force you to buy a heavy duty Jeep winch to get you to safety.

If you notice unusual vibrations while you are taking corners, the problem may just be in the axle. Pull over and check the axle. If you are not sure about what to do, drive into a truck repair center to get an “all clear” before you get back on the road.

If by any means you fail to notice the vibrations, there’s one more thing. The clunking sound when you are shifting gears. These sounds typically indicate a problem with the axle itself, while it may also mean a transmission failure.

When the truck is struggling to complete transmission, it is always detected from the clunking sounds. Usually, the clunking sounds are louder on the side of the axle with the damage. It simply means the transmission is unable to convey power to the wheels efficiently.

Now, upon failure of the velocity axles, you could hear a strange click on the truck’s side. It generally indicates that the axle joints have become weak. The sound may be louder depending on severity of the problem.

While grease leaks have nothing to do with axle damage, inadequate grease in the axle boot or CV boot could lead to near-future axle problems faster than you think. A broken joint could let in dust that can cause axle damage. 

To mitigate this, you should regularly check for leaks in your truck’s axle boots and boot clamps. The leaks from these places are easily visible from underneath the truck. You should seal all cracks as soon as you notice them.

If the truck starts normally, gets in gear but can’t just go anywhere, the problem could be in the axle. As we saw in our description of what the role of an axle is, the truck is probably having an issue with its transmission.

That the car starts just fine, gets in gear but fails to move indicates an incomplete ‘circuit’ in the transmission cycle. It is evident that power from the engine isn’t reaching the wheels for some reason.

The best way to deal with this problem is to pull over and check what the problem is. Running with a damaged axle could lead to further complications that may be costly than the original problem.

The axle plays a critical role in the overall transmission to movement of the truck. It transports all the power generated from the engine and torque to the wheels to bring about movement. Overall it's key to keep any vehicle's performance to the top to face fewer problems.

The safest thing to do once you hear one of these four signs is to pull over in a safe spot and check. It is usually easier to repair the simpler problems rather than wait and replace the whole axles and the spindles.