After replacing the left side cv axle assembly on my '97 Accord L4 5 speed with 180K on it I notice a drivetrain vibration while the engine is under load at certain speeds/rpms. It's quite apparent at 22-28 mph in second gear. I just acquired the vehicle and am not very familiar with it. I also replaced both upper control arms, lower ball joints, outer tie rod ends and end links at the same time. The bushings were gone on one control arm and the ball joint was loose on the other one. End link bushings were deteriorated. The other fittings had some life left in them but the boots were torn so I replaced them for good measure. The front end had plenty of clanks and rattles in it so it is possible the vibration was there before I started working on it and I just didn't notice it. But my gut feeling is that it's new. I am wondering if I got a bad axle or if something else is going on. Any ideas?

 

Define 'new'

Is this a remanufactered part from Advanced Auto? Those really are a gamble.

 

It's a Cardone from Rock Auto. It's new.

 

See these threads:

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...axle+vibration

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...axle+vibration

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...axle+vibration

 

http://www.cardone.com/products/driv...cv-drive-axles

Their website only lists remanufactured axles.

I would suggest returning them and getting a set of NEW axles either from Honda or similar.

 

I followed the above threads and see that the two most highly recommended options are OEM/Honda CV Driveshafts, or units from raxle.com. The problem is, that the OEM units are nearly $500 per side (or higher depending upon where you shop), and the raxle.com web site seems to have been abandoned or is defunct.

Has anybody tried the "New" NAPA MaxDrive (~$93 per side) or "New" Altrom Imports Ultra-8 units (~$95 per side)?

 

FWIW, I just looked up my 2001 Accord EX-L V6 and found NEW axles at CarDone.com, so apparently not all of their products are remanufacted.

http://www.cardone.com/Products/Prod...+Cyl.%3a%3a%3a
http://www.cardone.com/Products/Prod...+Cyl.%3a%3a%3a

 

Huh, wonder why those didn't show up previously. Granted I didn't drill down into the exact make/model. I'm guessing they don't offer new axles for everything. My apologies shipo!

 

http://www.raxles.com/ works perfect for me. Just visited the site.

 

Rock Auto lists the Cardone # 664088 as a new part. I don't know if it is new or not but I am beginning to get the drift that aftermarket CV axles are problematic, at least for this vehicle. I have replaced them before a few times on other vehicles and never had a problem. Lacking an alternative theory I guess I'll pull it out and try another one. I did notice that the wheel bearing has some play in it but I don't think it has anything to do with this problem. Question: Is it possible/advisable to replace the bearing without a press?

 

I believe that cardone is the part that Oreilly uses. If it is, they are complete and total junk. I had two go bad that I used on my Toyota, which was under warranty from a place that installed them, then after the second set were put on they also went bad, but by that time the year was up so I had to go over to autozone. What happened in one instance was the band on the end wasn't tight enough(I could wiggle it with my finger back and forth) which allowed all the grease to slowly leak out. On other occasions, I believe that there wasnt' enough grease inside them. Slowly they broke down in a matter of months. I am using autozone now, with no problems.

 

i went with autozone's duralast with lifetime warranty. Haven't had a problem on my 97 accord

 

Keep in mind that, per the CarDone.com web site, the Car Done folks distribute both remanufactured and new drive shafts. Do you know if the units you used on your Toyota were the new variety or were they remanufactured?

 

They were supposedly new 'cause the place I had install them charged me $150. They woulda charged me $100 for the remans but would not have warrantied them so I went with the new.

Again, just to be clear, I'm not certain if the Oreilly brand is Cardone, but I think they are.

 

Thanks for the update.

 

Rock Auto also carries EMPI, Surtrack and APWI brands. Any opinions on these? The only reason I bought the Cardones is because I heard of them before and the other brands are unknown to me.

 

Does it get any better worse when you turn one way or the other? Might want to look at wheel bearings.

 

Turning has no effect that I can tell. Besides having a torn boot the old CV was noisy all the time and really bad on RH turns. I noticed the LF wheel bearing had a little slop in it when I put it back together. I am a little worried about if that might be the problem but I can't get any noise out of it turning or coasting in neutral or in gear or going over bumps. It's definitely looser than the right side. After replacing the other components the front end feels real tight. I've got another Cardone CV coming from Rock Auto. They told me that it was unusual to get one of these back. I'm going to feel like an idiot if I don't have this figured out right. I also have a wheel bearing hub coming. I didn't realize that this is a bolt on part. Seems like it should be a fairly simple job while I have everything else apart.

 

Update: I replaced the CV with another Cardone from Rock Auto along with the bearing/hub assembly. Vibration still there. Bummer. Two bad axles? Something else? Motor mounts?

 

Make sure it's not the wheels. Double check engine and transmission mounts

 

all those worn components could have led to uneven tire wear

 

So, youve replaced the cv and wheel bearing one one side? I know it sounds weird. but I had a guy who did the same thing on a suburban once, and it turned out to be the wheel bearing on the opposite side.

Check the engine/transmission mounts too. Difficult, I know but looks like youve changed out just about everythign else. Also, does it make any difference if you coast in gear or out of gear?

 

With all of that suspension parts replaced, did you get an alignment?

 

Wheels, bearings, alignment all good. How do I check motor mounts? I've tried slapping the drivetrain by repeatedly putting the pedal to the medal then releasing. I can't get any clunks or rattles out of it. After a little searching I've come to realize I am not the first person on the planet to have problems with Cardones. EMPIs may be better. I don't know. Raxles wants $260 for an axle. The vehicle did not have an OEM in it.

 

Rev in neutral?