CV Joints?

[gmrulz4u]

What are the symptoms of bad CV joints? Also, has anyone ever had them replaced?

Thanks:)

[TurboSedan]

'clicking' noise when turning, ripped boots. pull the wheels off and inspect the CV boots. if they are ripped then more than likely the grease has run out causing joint failure. i've never rebuilt a CV joint or rebooted one, i would rather just go buy a new axle. they aren't very expensive anyway.
joshua

[JPaganel]

There will be crackling, like knuckles, when you turn. Also, vibration at higher speeds.

Yes, ripped boots are a definite indication. If the boot rips, but you notice it right away, you can replace just the boot. You need to remove the axle to do that. I wouldn't want to do it more often than necessary, it's easier to replace tha axle while you are at it and save yourself the trouble of repeating the work. A driveaxle is $112.60 at carparts.com, so you could probably get it for the same price or less locally. If you find a company that specializes in rebuilding them, you could get them very cheap.

As far as rebuilding a CV joint yourself goes, it's not worth the time and effort.

[TurboSedan]

A driveaxle is $112.60 at carparts.com, so you could probably get it for the same price or less locally. If you find a company that specializes in rebuilding them, you could get them very cheap.

As far as rebuilding a CV joint yourself goes, it's not worth the time and effort.

yes. if you get an axle locally tho, you can use your old shaft as a core. so an axle should definately be under $100. you will need a slide hammer to get the axle out of the tranny tho, but some people have had luck using other tools (?). my 9lb. slide hammer was $18 at harbor freight and it works great.
joshua

[nerfbars]

At Carquest the CV Halfshafts are about $65 comes complete with boots and grease, plus a lifetime coast to coast warramty. Nobody replaces just the cv joint anymore.

[chronic139]

to get the axle out of the tranny, just use 2 pry bars, 1 on eanch side and apply even force. should come out without to much trouble.

[GnatGoSplat]

I have replaced both outer CV joint boots on an '88 Cutty and it was pretty easy. Not much more additional work (maybe 15-minutes more?) and saved over $40 so it was worth it. Even if it took 2hrs additional, it would be worth saving $40 because I don't make $20/hr at my job.

[JPaganel]

I don't make $20/hr at my job.

You don't? And here I was, thinking you were this rich eccentric who drives W-bodies out of sheer love for them... :)

[MaD]

Ha, no that'll be me one day. For real.

If I ever get rich, I'll be the only person in the world with over $100,000 invested in a BASE Cutlass Supreme http://www.psychopathicforums.com/yabbse/YaBBImages/rofl.gif

-MaD-

[GnatGoSplat]

RICH!!! I wish! I'm just a web programmer for a university (state employee - we don't get paid much). But I'm with MaD on this one... I'm definitely pretty eccentric and if I had a ton of money, I probably would throw $100k of mods into my W-bodies rather than blow it on a Porsche or BMW M5.

[JPaganel]

Well, when people ask me what I would do if I won the Powerball lottery, I say I'll paint my car...