I replaced both my driver/passenger CV axles this afternoon. Surprisingly, the boots were not torn nor greasy so I wondered whether I was making a mistake by replacing them with new Cardone units (RockAuto FTMFW!!!). Once I removed them both though, I could tell the joints were grinding inside the boots. It could easily be felt a grinding quality to the joints. Weird though how the boots were on and had no cuts or tears or anything just a little dirt though. Its like the grease inside just vanished. LOL. Anyways, as I was finishing up installing the tie rod and upper ball joint castle nuts on the passenger side, both the nut/ball joint started spinning on both the tie rod and the upper ball joint. Dammitt, now I gotta replace those. Rockauto here I come. As you were.

 

THOSE WILL SPIN YOU DONT NEED TO REPLACE THEM!!! all you need to do is get a pair of big channel locks and squeeze the tie rod/steering knuckle and upper control arm/steering knuckle together while you are tightening the nut so they dont spin.

 

Yes!!! After I posted that, I went searching on the intertubes and found out that if they spin like that, you need to apply pressure to keep the bolt from spinning. The accord is back on the road. Thanks.

 

Well I have another problem now. After my CV axle replacement, I know have a really mushy brake pedal. It goes all the way to the floor before the car will stop. I've checked fluids and all is good there. I didn't have to open any bleeder valves or anything when I removed the brakes from the wheels while changing the cv axles so I don't think its air in the brake system. Any ideas??


Edit: My brake pads are in good shape except I just realized that my brakes had no shims on either side. Are the shims supposed to be there just to keep the pads from rattling? I have been running around in the car without brake problems until after the cv axle replacement so I assume that driving without shims, although not recommended probably, is not a problem???

 

Really mushy brake pedal is usually indicative of air in the braking system, try topping off and bleeding.

 

one of the brake lines must have been damaged during the axle replacement look for leaks and bleed the brakes correctly. replace any damaged lines

i had no idea that the ball joints and tie rods would spin like that. i had never ran into this problem with my old 96 accord ex. currently changing a bunch of parts on my 90 accord so i guess im about to find out