An axle cap seals the hub on a floating axle during towing, preventing oil from leaking out and protecting wheel bearings, oil seals, and wheels. Without it, oil loss can cause burned bearings, seals, and dirty wheels. Axle covers are made from various materials and can include oil fill access plugs and multiple bolt patterns. Using axle covers can save money and time for towing companies and vehicle owners.
An axle cap is a device used to seal the hub on a floating axle when the vehicle is towed. Manufactured from various metals and compounds, some of the most popular styles in axle cover designs are made from plastic. Once the axle is removed from the wheel hub assembly, the axle cap is placed over the axle mounting bolts and secured by finger-tightening the retaining nuts. Installing the cap allows oil to remain inside the hub while the vehicle is being towed, thus protecting wheel bearings, oil seals, and even the wheels by preventing hub oil from leaking out of the hub and coating the wheels .
When towing buses, heavy trucks, and virtually any vehicle equipped with floating wheel hubs, one or more of the drive shafts must be removed from the differential to allow the wheels to spin freely during towing. One of the problems with this is that the axle actually seals the hub and prevents oil from leaking out as the wheel spins during the towing process. Without the aid of an axle cover, crane drivers were forced to place cardboard and other materials in the open hub to prevent oil from escaping. This would often fail, resulting in burned wheel bearings, burned grease seals, and very dirty wheels as the oil would coat the wheels and tires. Occasionally, fires would result from oil loss combined with the extreme heat associated with operating the bearings while they are dry.
By fitting an axle cover over the exposed hub opening, oil loss is kept to a minimum and often nothing is lost. Rubber and cork gaskets placed in the hub behind the axle cover seal the hubs and maintain the oil level within the hub. Some axle cap models include an oil fill access plug to allow tow truck operators to complete the hub prior to towing the vehicle. Once towing is complete, the axle cap can be removed and the axle replaced. The lid can be cleaned and stored in the tow vehicle until needed again. Some axle cap designs include multiple bolt patterns to allow the cap to be used on a variety of different hubs.
By using the covers, the towing company often gains a level of professionalism in the eyes of vehicle owners. By avoiding the need to dispose of vehicle oil generated by towing with an improperly sealed pail, the customer can save money on towing cost. The covers also prevent wasted towing company time by eliminating the need to stop on the highway due to burnout of the towed vehicle’s wheel bearings.
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