[UnkalledFor]

Well for a while now my car has been making some creaking noises and thumping sounds when i turn.. at first i thought my brakes were the culprit, but after changing my pads and rotors, i discovered there was a rip in the cv boot... i noticed that all the grease was gone and then decided to take it to my mechanic to get an estimate... he told me $300 for parts, plus $150 for labor.. i then proceeded to laugh in his face... well i sorta ignored the problem for about 2 months and now they sound really bad... sounds like metal on metal scratching after every full rotation of the wheel.. usually louder when i am going slower.. so anyways i wanted to see what you guys think i should go for..i have a 2 options:

$175 - both axels rebuilt/labor included
or my current choice...
$220 + $75 = $295 - go to autozone and order 2 GCK Axels for 109.00/ea, and go install them at an independent mechanic for about $75...

if you have any better solution to my problem please let me know.. i am currently looking at the new axels because i figure that they will last longer than the rebuilt ones(if i am wrong correct me), and come with a lifetime limited waranty...so in the long run a little extra spent will be worth it... let me know what you guys think... :thumbup:

 

[Omega3k1]

I'd probably go for the new ones cause with you driving on those axels for that long with them grinding they're probably in pretty bad shape. Better solution is next time when they start to make a noise replace the CV-Boot. That will save you tons of money.

 

[UnkalledFor]

I'd probably go for the new ones cause with you driving on those axels for that long with them grinding they're probably in pretty bad shape. Better solution is next time when they start to make a noise replace the CV-Boot. That will save you tons of money.

yea, i would have gone for that, but they thin was i had bought the car back in September of last yr with it making that noise, but only on turns.. and it increased over time.. i didnt really think it was anything too bad.. and then when i replaced my brakes at the end of December i noticed that the boot was ripped... and 3 months later i still havnt replaced them.. they are in really bad shape now...hopefully waiting this long to change them wont affect any other part of my car.. i think they have affected the tire balance because the wheel shakes some now and if i have no hands on the wheel it drifts to the right... dont know if its anything to do with my problem, but i will have to have my tires balanced soon... maybe when i finally buy my new wheels... still saving up

 

[DijitaL]

mine is in in the shop now for that

I got a guy doing it for 40 a side and it cost me 104.20 with my brothers discount to get nice new axles.

plus working on why the lil beast aint startin as well

i never changed my cv's on my old car and ill tell you what... your lucky it didnt just rip off all the way ....

ended up lossing a tire and sliding into a car.. so yeah.. watch that next time mate.

 

[wildmanee]

Yeah, my car makes squeaky noises on the right front side when I'm going over bumps really slowly.. could this be the axle/boot?

 

[Bryan200sx]

do it your self its easy.

i have it down to 35 min a side (thats pulling them off and putting them back in).

at auto zone i belive they are $65 remanufactured with a life time warranty well worth it.....

when the boots go the axel usually goes a little after. When the boot rips i just go get a new one.

 

[sentdawg]

yea i agree...it takes bout 30 min for each side...jus buy new ones or remanufactured ones...but it also depends on how aggressive u drive

 

[Tavel]

30 mins a side is being too liberal. figure an hour for the first side, 45 minutes for the second. you shouldn't take it to a mechanic for this because replacing and axel is actually easier than replacing the brake pads.

just a note: BEFORE you dig into your car, you need to get 4 quarts of tranny oil (GL4, 75W-90). most of the oil will fall out of the tranny when you pull the axels, so now is the best time to change the tranny oil. also remember to put a catch pan under the tranny before you pull the axels, messes are no fun.

 

[UnkalledFor]

well my dad said he would pay the labor.. i told him that i can try doing it myself.. and he doesnt want me to.. so w/e he is paying the labor costs now, so i only have to buy the two axels and take it somewhere.. im looking around for good prices on labor.. so far best is $75.. i might be able to get it down to $50 because the independant mech. is close to my girlfriend's step dad..

 

[Tavel]

well since your dad is paying the labor it's all good.

my day says the skills you learn when working on a car are very valuble and stick with you for your whole life. so as you can imagine, i have to do stuff myself. :cheers:

 

[UnkalledFor]

my dad just doesnt want me to make a mistake and then a wheel come off while driving and i total the car.. he usually plays it safe.. i usually dont.. we are opposites in that matter.. but i dont mind him paying the labor, plus im lazy anyways, so less work for me.. :thumbup:

 

[DijitaL]

my dad just doesnt want me to make a mistake and then a wheel come off while driving and i total the car.. he usually plays it safe.. i usually dont.. we are opposites in that matter.. but i dont mind him paying the labor, plus im lazy anyways, so less work for me.. :thumbup:

LOL

i know that lazy feeling.. haha

but yeah it aint fun sliding out of control with sparks FLYING EVERYWHere

good luck on em. hehe

( if you wanna talk a mechanic down.. just talk mad trash lol and try to get him a lil lower... be like well this <insert car dealer that is cheap> said he would do it for <insert price> .. ..... .. But i dont really beleive in their work, Maybe you can cut the price a few bucks since I would LOVE to have you fix my car. ) etc etc but make sure the mechanic aint friend with whoev er you wanna say said the price.. LOL i did that and ended up paying almost double for tryin to bs him. just warning on that.

 

[stevja1]

I just read through this thread, and I have a quick question... are both boots gone or just one? It sounded like just the front right axle was busted. If its just one, it should be super cheap.

BTW, replacing the axles isn't to hard. You just have to have an enormous socket, and be able to pound stuff a little with a hammer. (To make the axles and stuff come out.) I've done it on a Geo Storm. That wasn't too bad. Just make sure you get everything pounded back into place when you're done.

 

[BIRM_200SX]

Anyone know why the right axel is such a pain in the butt to remove? Took me and my dad about an hour to do it the first time. After that, it wasn't so bad, but still a pain.

 

[Bryan200sx]

well since your dad is paying the labor it's all good.

my day says the skills you learn when working on a car are very valuble and stick with you for your whole life. so as you can imagine, i have to do stuff myself. :cheers:

Same thing my dad said but hes just cheap

The reason the right is harder is because the actual pulling of the axel is in a tougher position. get a kro bar. i know it sounds like over kill but you get that axel off in a matter of seconds.

( the reason i do it so fast is i got air tools )

also depending on the miles on your car when you go take your axels to the mechanic buy the C/V joint tranny seals they are like 3 - 4 bucks per side and its worth changing. You dont want to have your new axels in and then have your tranny leak. They shouldent charge you extra due to the fact that when you pull the axel they are right there.