You can certainly replace your CV axle at home, but using a jack, jack stands, and power tools will require you to be at least somewhat competent. The expense of replacing your CV axle will be relatively affordable if you already have the majority of the necessary tools installed in your garage at home. You can typically get a new one for less than $100 at parts shops and online retailers.
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Should I swap out both CV axles at once?
Since front-wheel drive (FWD) became widely used in the 1980s, constant-velocity (CV) joints have been around.
Most CV joints are found on front-wheel drive (FWD) cars and minivans, while some rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles also employ them. Because CV joints allow the joint to bend at a larger angle without causing driveline vibrations, they are frequently employed in place of U-joints. The speed of the shaft changes when a U-joint is used at an angle greater than a few degrees.
The cyclic vibrations increase with increasing angle. Depending on the application, CV joints can endure joint angles of up to 47 to 54 degrees without experiencing any vibrations. There are several different CV joint designs in use, but the majority of them have an outer joint with a Rzeppa design that has six balls that ride in races between the inner and outer joint housing. The balls rotate in a plane that is half the joint angle as the joint bends and always bisect the joint angle.
The balls are kept in position by a steel cage. As the cage’s windows deteriorate over time, the balls may start to pop and rattle as the car is maneuvered to the left or right. This results in a popping or clicking sound, which is a typical sign of a damaged CV joint. Noise and play in the joint might also result from wear or damage to the polished balls or ball grooves. Similar to wheel bearing oil, a special high-temperature CV joint grease is used to lubricate CV joints.
As long as the protective rubber or plastic boot that encloses the joint remains in place and doesn’t leak, the joints can endure a very long time. A ripped, broken, or leaking boot is typically the No. 1 cause of early CV joint failure. The centrifugal force produced by the rotating joint will cause grease to escape from even a tiny pinhole or hairline crack. The boot may leak if the boot clamps are loose, damaged, or absent. A leaky boot can also let in dirt and water, which can lead to wear and corrosion.
By the time the leaky boot is found, many CV joints need to be replaced because they are severely worn or contaminated. Despite the possibility of replacing CV joints and boots separately, the majority of professional mechanics and even do-it-yourselfers opt to swap out the entire halfshaft assembly for a remanufactured shaft. Reman shafts are already put together and prepared for installation. While some shafts have reground joints with larger balls, some have new CV joints.
In either case, replacing a damaged boot or CV joint is much quicker, simpler, and less messy using a reman shaft. With a preassembled shaft, there is also less possibility for installer error and comebacks. It is frequently a wise decision to replace both shafts at the same time on a high-mileage car with a damaged CV joint or boot. Because right turns are more frequent than left turns and are made at a greater angle, the right (passenger side) shaft frequently fails first. The right outer CV joint and boot therefore wear out first. A hub puller to separate the outer CV joint from the steering knuckle and wheel bearing, as well as a hydraulic press for older Asian automobile applications with press-fit wheel bearings, may be required special tools to replace a shaft.
If my CV axle is damaged, can I still drive?
A boot keeps the Constant Velocity closed. The joint could become worn out and possibly fail if this boot sustains injury. Driving an automobile with a broken CV may cause the joint to progressively deteriorate, rendering it impossible. You won’t be able to control the car, which increases the likelihood of an accident.
How long does changing a CV axle take?
Depending on the vehicle and whether further repairs are required, replacing a CV axle typically takes one and a half to three hours. A CV axle normally lasts between 70,000 and 130,000 miles, although they should be frequently checked for corrosion. For instance, a damaged boot lets grease leak from the CV joint it guards, thus reducing the lifespan of the axle. To keep the expense of this repair down, it is acceptable to merely replace one faulty CV axle as opposed to both (or all four in an all-wheel-drive automobile).
After changing a CV axle, should I add transmission fluid?
The transmission and transfer case fluids are located up front. Transmission fluid lubricates the front differential, which is located inside the transmission case. A SMALL quantity of transmission fluid will leak out when the driver’s side axle is detached from the transmission. An intermediate axle that connects to the transmission is located on the passenger side and is typically left alone. Since the main axle on the passenger side only connects to the intermediate axle, there is no fluid loss when it is replaced. The fluid in the front transfer case is unaffected by the axle swap.
How can you tell if a CV axle is failing?
These are the five simplest ways to tell if your CV axle is damaged.
- An opening in the boot.
- Your wheels have grease inside of them.
- a knocking noise
- Turning While Clicking.
- Driving While Vibrated
How much should a CV joint replacement cost?
The price of a CV joint alone can range from $95 to $210. A replacement by a mechanic will cost anywhere from $165 to $800.
Whether you’re changing a double or single axle will mostly affect the cost. The cost of a double axle’s constant-velocity joint repair will be between $150 and $400, which is roughly twice as much as the cost of a single axle.
As a result, engaging a mechanic to complete the replacement will cost between $230 and $1180.
The brand and model of your car and how challenging the replacement job will be for them are additional factors. Naturally, the cost of the service will increase the more time they require.
Because this is a significant service, your mechanic or auto expert must also do a thorough safety inspection, paying particular attention to the boots and axles. There can be a leak from the CV boots if the tires have grease on them.
Additionally, if you turn and hear loud clicking noises, you might need to repair the axle as well.
What distinguishes a CV joint from a CV axle?
In front-wheel drive vehicles, CV axlesalso referred to as half-shaftsare used to transmit engine power from the transaxle to the two drive wheels. In addition to using CV axles, some late-model vehicles with independent rear suspension also have four-wheel and all-wheel drive.
- Drive shafts are connected to the transmission by an inner CV joint.
- Connect the drive shafts to the drive wheels using the outer CV joint.
These joints enable the axle to accommodate various travel conditions, such as the suspension’s up and down motion and cornering, while transferring engine power to the drive wheels at a steady pace. Without constant-velocity joints, when the car encountered a bump on the road or rounded a corner, the axles would bind or shatter. For the CV axle to operate at its optimum, joints must always be present and in good shape.
Knowing what a constant velocity axle is and how it connects to constant velocity joints, you can see that they are not the same thing but rather an integral part of one another. A CV axle includes CV joints, but what exactly are they?
CV joints
Commonly, CV joints are an element of the CV axle. A CV joint is a grouping of cages and bearings that permits power transfer and axle movement at a variety of angles. CV joints are made up of a cage, balls, and inner raceway that are all enclosed in housings that are covered with rubber boots and filled with lubricating grease.
The most frequent issue with CV joints is that they become damaged if the protective boot splits or tears. When that occurs, grease can leak and dirt and moisture can seep inside, shortening the joints’ lifespan since it wears out more quickly. As a result, it corrodes, loses lubrication, and becomes contaminated over time, eventually failing.
What to replace between a CV joint or CV axle?
If your vehicle develops issues, it’s best to replace the complete axle if the boot is ripped because there can be hidden damage to the CV joints, axle shafts, and other components that could lead to more significant unforeseen losses and costs.
How quickly does a CV joint?
Many drivers are unaware of the fundamental relationship between the health of the automobile axles and CV joints and how well a vehicle’s wheel system performs. The vehicle’s steering, driving, and braking are all controlled by these parts, which transfer engine power to the wheels. They must be capable of supporting the entire weight of the vehicle, including passengers and cargo, in good condition. These joints can last up to 100,000 miles without needing to be replaced if they are not damaged.
You might be wondering what CV joints are. Simply put, CV joints, which connect the axles to the front wheels and are crucial for delivering torque from the transmission to the drive wheels at a consistent speed, are complex ball and socket joints. For instance, each of the two car axles on front-wheel drive vehicles has two joints, one connected to the transmission and the other to the tire. A CV joint is greased and sealed with a rubber “boot” to ensure smooth operation. Your joints are safeguarded and your wheels are powered as long as this boot is intact. What transpires, though, if it fails? When CV joints malfunction, the result is instantaneous and occasionally dangerous since the engine’s ability to transmit power to the tires is lost.
What are the symptoms of a bad CV joint?
By being aware of what to look for and what to listen for, CV joint failure can be avoided. Your automobile will start to pull to one side as one wheel loses power if a CV joint starts to fail while you’re driving. Even though the engine may continue to operate after the joint entirely collapses, the automobile will remain stationary. Your front tires may not point in the same direction due to one of them being fully removed from its driving axle, and you may notice smoke escaping from the fractured joint. When you accelerate, you can experience vibrations or hear a loud clunk, and turning might cause grinding or clicking sounds.
What should you do if your CV joint fails? If you can, gently steer your automobile off the road before dialing a towing service. Get your automobile into the auto shop as soon as you can since failing CV joints offer a major risk. Your mechanic might be able to fix a little break in the outer CV joint by simply replacing the CV boot and repacking the grease, but if there is any significant damage, a new joint must be installed.