CV axle breaks completely?

[hertfordnc]

I knew I had a bad CV axle. I found one on ebay, should be here any day now. So I was driving it and putting up with the noise which was getting bad fast. Loud knocking in turns and occasioanl banging at cruise. I could feel the loose axle.

Tonight it seems to have croaked completely- no movement in any gear.

Do you think the CV joint came a apart? In my experience with other cars they don't fail like that. They continue to make noise until you can't stand it.

If not the axle what else can it be? -

[TooMany2cvs]

Originally Posted by hertfordnc

Do you think the CV joint came a apart?

Yep.

In my experience with other cars they don't fail like that.

They do in mine - again, with other cars.

They continue to make noise until you can't stand it.

...then they break up completely, leaving you with that driveshaft spinning uselessly and the diff passing all torque to that side.

[AUSSIE900]

It will be the CV , and I will bet you were on full lock when it went ..

Fortunately they often seem to let go in a parking lot , low speed ,,

Its about the only way they can ultimately fail (not drive) , if you are not prepared to call Banging at Cruise failing ,

They continue to make noise until you can't stand it.

I cant stand the noise of banging at cruise ...
Apart from the axle , jumping out of the car and whacking you over the head , there isnt a lot more they can do to say fix me ....

I dont want to be an alarmist , but driving cars with serious Axle issues is dead set dangerous , glad it didnt create a real problem for you . Like taking off across a flow of traffic and loosing drive ...

[TooMany2cvs]

Originally Posted by AUSSIE900

glad it didnt create a real problem for you . Like taking off across a flow of traffic and loosing drive ...

<cough> Like it did to me, when one went.

Fortunately, whilst it was a big and busy roundabout, I didn't get very far into the traffic flow.

In my defence - I was young and optimism was still winning over cynicism, the car was newly purchased, and I was already hunting a replacement driveshaft for it...

[hertfordnc]

Damn, i was this close- replacement axle is on a UPS truck. I live in a rural area with a short commute so I pushed it beyond reasonable caution. It would only make noise at cruise if I hit a bump, then it would rattle terribly until I came to a complete stop and started over.

Anyway, I should get the part today. ANything I should know about changing it? Special tools?

thanks

[AUSSIE900]

< ditto cough > Was about to do a U turn from a stationery position (full lock)
went about 2 yards ..let go . sharp camber on road allowed quick retreat ..

Leader of the pack in the oncoming was a Truck and dog ( sand )
Probaly 20 tonne plus .

Defence very similar .. lot of green involved .

[AUSSIE900]

Replacing ,

Loosen axle nut before you do anything ..

Chock the suspension to unload the springs ..

Loosen wheel nuts ..

Jack and place on stands ..

Undo top ball joint by the 2 locating bolts

Finish undoing axle nut ..

Undo Caliper retaining bolts , ( support the weight of the caliper )

Slide the top ball joint out of the steering knuckle..

Steering on full lock ..

Undo clamps on inner driver .

remove shaft ...

No special tools , but you will need a decent breaker bar on the axle nut ,

You will also need a Perfectly fitted socket .. and exercise care ... there is a lot of torque required there ,

[hertfordnc]

thanks. Do you know what size the nut is ? I have a monsterous breaker bar. THe axle will be here tonight so with a bit of luck i could be back on the road tomorow.

thanks

[jetman]

If I recall its 30mm

[philb]

Its 32mm on my car, but that's a 91. Not sure if the earlier cars are different.

[TooMany2cvs]

Originally Posted by philb

Its 32mm on my car, but that's a 91. Not sure if the earlier cars are different.

32mm is a fairly standard hex head size. 30mm is not.

[AUSSIE900]

32mm on mine .. 88 , 89

[c900]

Yup the big hub nut size is 32 mm. Torque is the big issue - should be very high. Needs a breaker bar of some sort attached to a good 6-point 32 mm socket to free up the hub nuts. If either of them are loose, they're not tight enough. 8-)

Craig.