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Axles
Axles are the solid shaft that attach directly to the wheel. Each one is held in place with bearings, which attach
directly to the frame. Powering the axles are a series of chains.
Inspection
There are (4) important factors to inspect in the axle:
1. Check for any bends in the axle. This could be caused by hitting an object, and/or putting excessive stress on the
Mudd-Ox such as improper track installation. To check for bends, you may either:
A. Safely raise the entire Mudd-Ox using the wooden block method (See Raising the Mudd-Ox under Jack
Points). Put in a neutral position with parking brake disengaged. Spin the tires by hand and check for uneven
rotation or wobbling.
B. One individual should drive the Mudd-Ox while another watches from a safe distance. If the wheels appear to
be wobbling and/or the vehicle is bouncing on flat ground, there is most likely a bent axle.
2. Carefully look for any signs of cracks or hairline cracks.
3. With the wheel removed (see Wheel Removal under Tires/Wheels), ensure the hub assembly is in healthy
condition. The hub nut should be tight, lug nuts tight, and the hub itself should not have any slop in any direction.
“A” is the hub nut, “B” is a lug nut, and “C” is the hub in Figure-1.
4. Verify the bearing box itself is not bent or twisted (D in Figure-1).
Figure-1
Axle Assembly
BB
AA
CC
Removal
Typically, an axle itself does not need replaced, but is removed when replacing other components. If any compo-
nent of the axle assembly, chain sprocket, or bearing need replaced, the axle must be removed.
Note: If removing all axles at once, extra caution must be taken. As the Mudd-Ox body is made of plastic, it can grow
and shrink with temperature change - causing the frame to shift inside the body. After removing each axle, reinstall
the bearing flange bolts on the outside body. This method will keep the body and frame paired. See Figure-2.
DD
Figure-2
Install Bolts into Holes
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