But if you notice any other signs of axle damage, don't disregard it! Your car is incredibly dangerous to drive once you begin noticing vibrations caused by a damaged axle or other suspension problems. You'll notice some braking issues once your bent axle starts going bad.
But the average lifespan of a bad CV axle is around five to six months. Knowing this does not merely mean to stretch the deadline a little bit. You might be thinking that you can save more money by postponing the checkup for your ATV/UTV. But I'd suggest you take your vehicle to the service center as soon as possible.
Visible Misalignment - Though the shaft's wobbling might not always be obvious at the start, a bent axle will also often cause a visible deflection in the mounting of the tires. Though you may not feel a difference in how the vehicle handles, other drivers or people outside the vehicle may notice the wobble visibly.
In some cases, the cost to repair a severely damaged axle may not be cost effective, however, many axle shops lacking the ability to fix a bent axle, will simply have you replace it. Repairing a bent axle requires specialist skills and equipment not available at most axle repair shops.
Continuing to drive on a bad axle can lead to accidents on the road, and we don't recommend it. A bad axle that's about to break will emit a rumbling sound and can even cause the vehicle to vibrate when you speed up.
Here's Why You NEVER MESS WITH Your Factory CV Axle Boot!!
How serious is a bad axle?
A damaged axle can hinder power transfer from the transmission to the wheels. This causes power loss as some engine torque is lost in the faulty CV axle instead of reaching the wheels. The extent of power loss depends on the severity of the axle damage.
When constant velocity axles fail, you may also hear an unusual clicking sound may when turning the vehicle as joints become loose. These clicks are on the side of the faulty axle shaft and typically become noisier during sharp or fast turns.
Replacing a single axle, parts, and labor together can cost between $300 and over $1500, depending on the car. This rate can be multiplied by the number of axles you need replacing.
It is NOT safe to be driving a vehicle with a broken axle. If the axles fail completely while you're driving, you'll most likely lose control of the car, crashing or causing an accident. If the axles are completely broken before you start driving, then your car won't even start.
Repairing a front axle is about $550-$740, with the rear one approaching $480-$550. Luckily you won't have to do this often, and the replacement should last you for a while. However, it's highly advisable to service your car when you notice any of the symptoms.
For example, it may damage the tires or cause them to wear off much faster. Also, driving with a broken axle puts one at a higher risk of encountering an accident, especially of the driver isn't well experienced. Driving while the axle is broken may cause the tire to come off the rim.
A loud clicking or ticking sound when turning your vehicle is one of the most common symptoms of a bad CV axle. This sound comes from metal-on-metal contact of the joint, most likely from grease loss or worn components. This is a tale-tale sign that you must replace your CV axles soon as possible.
Axles tend to get bent in collisions with other cars or objects like curbs, concrete dividers, steel poles, or any fairly rigid structure. The things the axel is connected to might also be damaged.
Failing CV joints pose a serious risk so be sure to get your car into your auto shop as soon as possible. If there is only a small crack in the outer CV joint, your mechanic may be able to simply replace the CV boot and repack the grease, but for any major damage, an entirely new joint is necessary.
This is a job most home mechanics could do in an afternoon, so read on for the basics of how to replace a CV axle. Block the wheels to prepare for jacking up the vehicle. Use your floor jack to elevate the vehicle and immediately secure the vehicle with jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and take off the wheel.
Things that can break your vehicle's axle include poor maintenance; an auto accident; hitting curbs, potholes, or bumps too hard; and overloading your vehicle beyond its weight-bearing capacity.
CV joints. Typically, CV joints are parts in the CV axle. A CV joint is an assembly of bearings and cages that allows for axle rotation and power transmission at a number of different angles.
So, how often do car axles need to be replaced? On a new car today, you can expect to get up to 60,000 miles or more before needing to replace the CV joints or struts. But again, it will depend on your driving manner and style and the road conditions you drive over.
The most common sign of a broken axle is that your tires won't rotate. This might happen suddenly if your axle breaks while you're driving, or it might happen when you're trying to accelerate from a stop. No matter how much power and torque you try to send to the axle, it cannot rotate the wheels because it's broken.
Inner CV joint failures are rare. One of the symptoms of a failed inner CV joint is a shudder or side-to-side shake during acceleration. A worn-out inner CV joint may also cause clunking when shifting from Drive to Reverse.
CV joints and boots can be replaced individually, but most professional technicians and even do-it-yourselfers prefer to replace the whole halfshaft assembly with a remanufactured shaft.
On average, a single axle replacement costs between $300 and $1,500, depending on the type of vehicle and labor hours. The cost of parts ranges between $760 and $1,030, while labor cost is between $170.00 and $180.
Front Wheel Drive vehicles have two CV Axle Shafts, one connecting each of the front wheels to the transmission. All Wheel Drive vehicles have four CV Axle Shafts, two connecting the transmission to the front wheels, and two more connecting the rear differential to the rear wheels.
If your car shocks or struts are becoming worn, hitting a bump or pothole in the road could cause damage to the car axles. It could even cause them to break. Because axles are constantly rotating and flexing to accommodate different road conditions, they can wear out and fail.
