CV axles, what to do?
 

Hey guys I wanted to get some advice from everyone in the community here in regards to replacing CV axles.

I recently replaced my clicking OEM axles (298,xxx kms) with aftermarket ones from Cardone Select, non-remans. However a couple days after I installed them they started vibrating and now during any kind of light acceleration short of a WOT, there is crazy front end shuddering and shaking and it's seriously the most uncomfortable thing that's ever happened to my car. I did quite a lot of research after this issue came up and it seems like the general consensus is that any kind of aftermarket axles, regardless of the brand, regardless of reman or new, is hit or miss and even if it doesn't break down right out of the box, it will not last anywhere near as long as OEM axles which manufacturers charge an arm and a leg for (average Honda dealership charges nearly $400 per side for their OEM Honda axles). The problem with the Cardone axles was supposedly related to the lack of a damper that keeps vibrations and shaking in check during light acceleration when there's slack, or that there's way too much slack causing severe shuddering during acceleration that is continuously getting worse the more I drive it!

With that being said, I'm thinking of just going all out for OEM axles and not have to deal with any kind of issues related to aftermarket axles. Some say Cardone is awesome, some say it's garbage, same with EMPI (which was bought out a few years back and now called EMPIRE and makes lower quality stuff), FEQ, Ultra-8, and pretty much everything else that's not OEM. The only good thing I've heard about is Raxles, but even that seems like a bit of a hassle.

Based on everyone's experience here, is it even worth the time to go with aftermarket axles and risk premature failure, or just shell out the extra and get some proper OEM axles? Or is there a particular aftermarket brand that is better than everything else?

OEM mang. Like you said, it's all hit or miss. You could get another set of aftermarket ones but then you're in the same boat, not knowing if they're gonna be good or not once installed. I'd just save the headache and do it right the first time. You MIGHT save money going aftermarket or you could end up spending more in the end.

Are you a gambling man?

Just get OEMs. My boot was leaking a couple months ago, replaced the entire thing with OEM and no problems whatsoever. Just worth the extra peace of mind knowing it was designed to be shipped out from the factory with the same part.

Check out the prices for OEM from the states. Even with the retarded exchange mine was still at least half the price. Got quoted around $400 here and got it for 160 shipped to PR from OEMAcuraParts. I think they carry honda aswell.

I've gone through this with my DD and going through it again at this moment. If you do your own work you can chance it with the aftermarket stuff - I did with Napa ones, first new then remanufactured. Both were trash (vibrations during acceleration, damper or not). I ended up sourcing a lower mileage (supposedly) OE from a wrecker but now that one has failed.

For sanity's sake, I would avoid the aftermarket stuff and find a used, low mileage one in good shape and throw that in. Raxles can actually hit and miss, usually from jackasses abusing the warranty and returning aftermarket cores for them to rebuild instead of OE cores.

Any reason why you didn't just rebuild your original CV's? If you want to save some money I'd find some used ones and rebuild them right away, that way you're effectively putting in brand new axles.

might be a good investment to look for replacement ones from a scrapyard, rebuild it with new boots and grease, than try your luck with aftermarket.

that said, if you can't return the axles, you could try getting warranty for the aftermarket axles and move your dampers over (if possible) from the oem ones.

You already know where to go for OEM axles :troll:

#upsellakinari

OEM ones gone already, was not aware the OEMs could be rebuilt :derp:

It's pretty much impossible to find Elements in junkyards, which is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time I guess lol. The complete OEM axles from the US are $143 USD per side before tax and shipping, would still be cheaper than buying here.

EDIT: did some calculations, works out to be around $450 CAD after taxes and shipping to Blaine :alonehappy: thanks Murica for cheap OEM parts

Yup, usually much cheaper to buy OEM from down south.

As for the CV axles, it's definitely a hit or miss thing... especially if your vehicle is lifted or lowered. Funny thing is that with VW or Mazda, I usually never had a problem, but the Accord burned through a set at a rate of two pairs every year. Originally replaced them with OEM units, but even those failed. Figured if I was gonna keep breaking 'em, might as well use cheaper crap.

OP needs a new car

Did you do the work yourself?
Possibly a loose axle nut?
Possibly a loose fastener that was taken off to replace the axle?
Just my 2 cents.

All work was done by a shop I trust by a technician I trust that has always worked on my car ever since I started modifying it. He did the installation and the diagnosis of the problem and double checked everything for me and verified that it was the CV axles causing the shaking problems with way too much slack.

cant he warranty it? unless you bought the part yourself

I bought the part myself, and to warranty the part I'd have to pay for labour to have them uninstalled and have my car sit in a shop until I ship the part back to Cardone (I pay shipping) and get them to ship me another Cardone rack that might be just as bad and have to pay for labour again to have them installed.

:fuckthatshit:

Decided to do it properly and go with OEM. Going to do a bunch of other suspension stuff while the axles are out as well, going all out :fuckyea:

I would try calling Import Auto Recyclers in abbotsford as they bought 2 elements from ICBC less than 3 weeks ago

Good call on going back to OEM. Sometimes what you pay for is what you get. Learned that from experience over time. Certain parts I would definitely go after market. As for major components like these OEM would be the way to go!

I went through two sets of new axles from the DriveShaft Shop when I had the engine swap done. Ended up using a set of used Integra axles, all we could figure was the vibrations were due to the lack of a dampener on the aftermarket axles.

Im in the same boat with my cardone axle on my van :(

my vibrations are only when turning to the right (changed the right/passenger side axle) though, so maybe something else is wrong.

strangely enough, the cardone axles i put in my daily '90 integra are fantastic, even with the car being lowered. no vibrations or shaking to speak of.

My b16a project Ef has gone through a few cardone axle from the previous owner. I slap on another cardone when I brought it. As far as I know it's a hit and miss.

I would love to invest in rebuild Oem axel but have no idea where to located them. If anybody know please hook me up with some em1 civic axles!!!

This is what the shop told me as well. Is there any way to simply install the dampener onto the axle? Like the OEM dampener (if there is one) onto the aftermarket Cardone axle? Probably not going to do this, still going to go with OEM to save myself any future headaches down the road for the next couple tens of thousands of kms, but just curious if this would be possible?

I'm not sure what the dampeners you're talking about look like, but I know it's not uncommon to need to transfer over bits from your original axles. I spent forever trying to find a CV for my Celica with a support bracket on it only to find out I had to get it pressed off my old one and onto the new one.

Sorry i'm just curious, would it have been cheaper if you went with whatever your shop quoted you for parts and labor- which should includes warranty.

Versus whatever total amount you'll be paying now; all because you decided to save some money by buying your own parts.

Hindsight is always 20/20.

According to the drawing, B16 axles have removable dampers.
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...S023B2101D.gif
http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/...w9A/s-l225.jpg

It's the rubber piece in the middle of the drive shafts #15 & #16