Common questions

What is the right indication of damaged CV joint front axle?

What is the right indication of damaged CV joint front axle?

One of the most common and most noticeable symptoms of a bad or failing CV axle shaft assembly is an audible clicking noise when turning. When CV axles become excessively worn, the joints will become loose and click when turning.

What is an axle spacer?

As the suspension geometry needs correcting when lowering the ride height, so does the length of the drivetrain half-shafts (AKA axles or CV’s). Their length is designed for OEM ride height with OEM specified wheel alignment.

Why are my front axles breaking on my lift?

This causes your machine to rock forward and put a ton of extra stress on your front axles that are already extended to their max while turning. This maneuver is a bad idea no matter what you’re driving, but on a big lift, it’s a guaranteed break. The Solution to Big Lift Kit Axle Issues

What causes an axle to bind on a lift kit?

Even if an axle doesn’t bind when you’re driving around on flat ground, an axle could bind when you go over uneven terrain where your suspension can drop momentarily. That’s bad. When you lift a machine without upgrading your axles, your axle’s CV joint angles increase. There’s no way around it.

How big is the axle on a lift kit?

Big lift kits give you at least five inches of lift, and their axle issues are a different beast. That’s because big lift kits almost always come packaged with extended axles. These axles can handle the extreme angles of a big six to ten-inch lift kit, but going big can also cause big problems.

Why is my lift kit axle melting off?

The boot on this CV literally melted right off the joint because the axle angle was too high and created too much friction. The loss of grease from the boot failure quickly destroyed this CV joint. This can be avoided by upgrading from stock axles on a small lift kit.

How does a CV axle work on a front wheel drive car?

A typical inner CV joint has three rollers on a tripod (spider) that can slide inside the CV joint housing, so the CV axle can extend or contract as needed. Typical CV axle (shaft) of a front wheel drive car with a Rzeppa outer CV joint and closed tripod-style inner joint. The inner CV joint can work under small angle too.

What causes a CV axle to wear out?

The most common problem for CV axles comes when you have cracked or loose CV boots. This can happen the joints on either side of the axle, but most commonly it happens with the outer CV joint. Without the boot to hold the grease in and dirt out, the joint will lose its lubrication and wear out over time.

What kind of joints does a CV axle have?

A CV axle or shaft has two constant-velocity or CV joints: inner and outer. A typical inner CV joint has three rollers on a tripod (spider) that can slide inside the CV joint housing, so the CV axle can extend or contract as needed. Typical CV axle (shaft) of a front wheel drive car with a Rzeppa outer CV joint and closed tripod-style inner joint.

What causes a CV boot to flex when lifting a truck?

When your truck is lifted, putting that angle on the joint/boot causes it to flex at that angle the entire time, even while flying down the flat highway at 75 mph mile after mile, hour after hour. I am no mechanic and have no real first hand knowledge, but it sounds logical to me and I am sticking with it.

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Ruth Doyle