bad cv joint, dangerous?

[jboyce]

so i got a bad cv joint on the front left, it used to squeak alot, now it just kinda clicks, so i'm wondering if it's dangerous to drive like this?

[KillerCam282]

Well YEAH. If you ignore it the axle can snap completely which can leave you stuck getting your car towwed. Change that axle ASAP.

[Masamune]

Personally, I drove on a clicking CV joint for a whole winter and never had a problem. It was more irritating than anything else. I'm not saying you shouldn't replace it ASAP, just that you aren't in any kind of rush to do it. The guy above is right though, if left long enough, the CV joint will simply let go, and BAM! you have a snapped axle. In short, do it soon but hurry up and take your time

[mrhonda]

Yep, this can happen ANYTIME. One of the boots split open on my Civic about a month ago. It had only been split open for about a week and wasn't even making any noise yet....all of a sudden....SNAP...it broke and I had to have to towed back to work. You might get 6 months out of a bad CV joint...or you might get a week.

[FishyMan]

hmm. well mrhonda and others, if u have a bad cv joint boot rip. i dont get any clicks but am afraid it being damaged.

do u recommend just changing the boot or the whole 1/2 shaft?

thanks.

[mrhonda]

hmm. well mrhonda and others, if u have a bad cv joint boot rip. i dont get any clicks but am afraid it being damaged.

do u recommend just changing the boot or the whole 1/2 shaft?

thanks.

Depends how long its been ripped open. If its been torn for a while, and you can see most of the grease is gone, even if its not making any noise I would probably replace the whole joint. However, if the boot is just cracking, or it has just recently torn open but most of the grease is still there and looks clean, I usually just repack it with new grease and replace the boot.

[FishyMan]

thanks.. i guess i'll end up replacing it.. cuz its been open and i do see crap in it.

i heard it was a messy job w/ the grease and all that, and for a noob it'll be better replacing the whole thing than just the boot and run into probs later.

thanks for the insights.

[thatsitbelowradarSTL]

this has been a question ive asked too....my boot has been ripped a long time and about 2 weeks ago it started the clicking noise....im takin some summer classes in birmingham now and i have to drive home to st. louis....i really dont want to pay a mechanic but im worried something could happen....im driving to atlanta and back to birmingham this weekend and then the only other major driving i will be doing is the trip to st. louis.

isnt an axle about 75 bucks after you bring in the old one?? i rather make it home, do the job, save money..rather than pay 250 for someone to do it.


any ideas?

[h22sparkle]

Do it yourself and learn like I did it will help later on when you dont have any money and you can say fuck the mechanics and save money.

[aero]

Yeah, best thing is to replace it yourself.. Its really easy, and there should be a dIY, search google, and there is one for a civic hatch, its the same process.

But it ends up costing about 80 bux from autozone AFTER you return the old one. The beauty in that is if it ever breaks again, you just bring it back and get a new one for free since they are lifetime warranty. I've replaced mine about 4-5 times, only paid the first time.

[thatsitbelowradarSTL]

yea...i guess ill just wait it out and do it myself....i just hope it doesnt snap on me or anything especially on the highway

[FishyMan]

the DIY one here doenst work, the link died. i've been trying to request a new one or a repost. i hope someone can help us out.

and when u guys meant joint, do u guys mean the whole 1/2 shaft?? i heard that u might as well replace the whole 1/2 shaft and not just the axle? i see rocks and shiet in mines, though it doesn't click (yet). i want to replace it, but i have to read the DIY and get a breaker bar and etc etc... *man i need tools.

[aero]

the DIY one here doenst work, the link died. i've been trying to request a new one or a repost. i hope someone can help us out.

and when u guys meant joint, do u guys mean the whole 1/2 shaft?? i heard that u might as well replace the whole 1/2 shaft and not just the axle? i see rocks and shiet in mines, though it doesn't click (yet). i want to replace it, but i have to read the DIY and get a breaker bar and etc etc... *man i need tools.

yeah, 1/2 shaft, axle.. same difference. I'll see if I can find that link. I have to do my axle sometime, but im kinda waiting on my new air guns, gotta break them in.

http://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=382416

that one should help

[h22sparkle]

Yup as many tools i Brought doin shit myself it can get expensive yaknow

[FishyMan]

Man that link is so useful. I can understand a whole lot more bought the lower ball joing, the prying and everything else.

Hopefully someone can make a DIY for our cb7s. Now i have to save up money for a bit more tools.

*a picture is worth a thousand words.. maybe a bill for a novice like me.

thanks..