Improve Your Quad's Ride: A Complete Guide to Axles - AllCarIndex

Improve Your Quad's Ride: A Complete Guide to Axles

Oct 31, 2024

Quad bikes can be customised for improved durability, better handling and more performance. Owners can source OE parts when dealing with stock replacements or go with the wide range of aftermarket options that promise more of everything. With bikes getting bigger and more powerful, all components see their fair share of abuse, meaning some critical parts will be replaced sooner rather than later. 

UTV and ATV axles are just some of the necessary items you'll change early on. To keep prices affordable, even bigger and established brands cut corners here and there, and quad bike axles and related parts like CV joints and boots bear the brunt. The parts are what get your quad bike going, transferring power from the engine and transmission to the wheels. 

While factory units are adequate in most riding and driving scenarios, factors like increased torque, added stresses, rising weight, changed geometries with fitted lift kits, and general wear and tear when encountering obstacles all mean the parts come under intense heat and impact. Prolonged periods of high engine loads can stress the transmission and drivetrain parts like the quad bike axle to the point of seizing or snapping straight off the bike. This means you'll be shopping for OE or aftermarket replacements to keep your quad running without issue. 

Basics of ATV and UTV Axles

Modern quads put out varying torque and power numbers, depending on engine displacement and the redlines they can reach. Some comfortably hit 200hp and 110 ft-lbs with engines spinning at almost 10000 RPM. With friction and heat rising as engine speeds increase, axles additionally work with the suspension, chassis and tyres to keep the bike upright and glued to the ground. 

This combination of factors can lead to unwanted surprises. While metal shafts, ball bearings and joints aptly handle insane levels of extreme temperatures and constant impact, metal fatigue will set in to bend, deform, shred or break the axle in two. On that note, flimsy factory CV boots will also rupture to bleed lubricant that keeps all metal parts working in unison, leading to exponential rates of wear. 

When Replacements are Needed

Regardless if you use your quad bike for work or play, you'll eventually need a working replacement axle. Catching signs of wear early on means you won't run the risk of being stuck in the middle of nowhere or having work uncompleted. Pay careful attention to common symptoms, including: 

- Clicking and popping signs in turns - stock axles will wear down and start to throw up weird popping and clicking sounds, which get louder as you turn or make subtle maneuvers. Often, this points to wear in the CV joints from excess heat and lack of lubrication, meaning related issues like lack of traction or heightened instability. Axle binding will also lead to grinding noises, vibrations and jolting when on the gas and risks damaging related drivetrain, suspension and steering parts. 

- Clunking noises when braking and accelerating - damage to joints, ball bearings and bushings creates excess play in the quad bike axle, especially with the transfer of weight when braking or on the gas. The same symptoms sprout up if these parts are bent or chipped. 

- Power loss in one or all wheels - irreparable axle damage means wheels will stop turning. Before this happens, riders can also experience the quad pulling left or right, with increased vibrations through the handlebars or steering wheel. Similarly, gears become harder to engage, particularly reverse. 

Common causes are bent shafts, leaking boots and damaged and worn bearings and joints. Inspect your quad bike for any damage after longer bouts on the trails on the worksite, with more care to the condition of the axle components. 

Viable Options

Quad owners often make the mistake of choosing original equipment parts over aftermarket options. Most quad bike manufacturers don't disclose who they team up with for their parts, and rarely do they make parts on their own. Original equipment components can be different across models, depending on price, power output and expected profit margins. 

If you're after more than what you got from factory axles, looking aftermarket gets you better deals. more value, usually better build and higher performance. The market is littered with dozens of brands. Varying price brackets are often a testament to the quality you're getting, though new players undercut established names for value without sacrificing longevity, performance, materials and build. 

Most aftermarket quad bike axles are sold as heavy-duty and extreme-duty types, and each is marketed towards different vehicles. Heavy-duty ATV and UTV axles include thicker axle shafts made from stronger 5140 carbon steel able to cope with higher stress levels and more heat, with reduced fatigue as compared to thinner mild steel variants in most factory units. 

Shafts are paired with machined CV joints for smoother power transfer, industrial-grade ball bearings to prevent binding and vibrations, and neoprene boots that put stock thermoplastic types to shame. The combination proves best in low-to-mid spec quads pushing between 50 and 100hp at the wheels and brings more fun in high-speed runs when mudding, in technical trails, or lugging heavy gear around the farm or construction site. 

For bigger bikes and those that exceed 100 horsepower, quad owners get improved build quality with better materials, precision machining and tighter tolerances found in extreme-duty axles. These revolve around even chunkier shafts made of 4340 Chromoly steel that move the bar in strength and ensure lasting performance. 

Shafts end in CNC-machined joints that also offer better wheel articulation with increased angles offering better clearance, roll on precision induction-treated bearings in larger diameters and sturdier cages and races to ensure durability and are covered with thick, puncture-resistant neoprene boots that prevent leaking lubricant. Inside you'll find high-pressure moly grease doing the lubrication rounds to significantly reduce metal-on-metal friction and contain higher heat. Built this way, axle assemblies should last for thousands of miles no matter how or where you ride. 

Other Buying Considerations

Both variants come pre-assembled for easy fitment. Aftermarket brands engage in thorough research and real-world testing to ensure that axles are of the right length for each model and work flawlessly. The parts are offered as left and right and front and rear types, with the fronts usually enduring higher wear and are the ones that see more frequent replacements. Lastly, besides choosing a brand that suits your budget, look for limited-time warranties (most are 2 or 3 years) and ISO certifications to know that you're getting a quality-tested product that's promised to last.