I don't know squat about front wheel drive cars...just had to get that out of the way

I'm starting to get a clicking in the front end when I turn and both CV boots are cracked, so it's time for new axles, right?

Where is the cheapest place to buy them? How hard are they do yourself? (I'm mechanically inclined )

Or

What would a shop typically charge?

Thanks for helping the noob :D


[Modified by hankd, 1:40 AM 10/22/2002]

 

Jack up car,
Put on jack stands,
Remove front wheel,
Remove big 34mm or 36mm axle nut,
Disassemble tie rod ball joint,
Swing brake assembly to one side and use a bungy to secure it,
Pull out axle.

 

[img]rays car dammit.jpg[/img]

 

Good job Mr. X.

 

love those x's

 

There is a trick to getting that ball-joint off. The clicking is the CV joints gone bad, obviously... you can get rebuilt axles for about $55 with core swap...

 

Doesn't sound so bad...

Who carries rebuild axles?

 

Your local auto parts store would have these. Don't forget on a 92 Accord the bolts are gonna be rusted on tight in most places. This will be your biggest pain. And those 36mm axle nuts...if they have never been off they will be a major PITA. It might be a good time to replace some other stuff while your in there like wheel bearings, bushings, ball joints.


[Modified by Stew Pidasso, 9:24 AM 10/23/2002]

 

Thanks for the tips guys...

Anybody else?

 

They are not very difficult to replace. The biggest pain, as everyone else said, is the 36mm axle nut. What I would do is find a buddy with an impact wrench and have them loosen it a bit for you. Tighten it up enough to get home and then you won't have any problems. It is really a 15 minute job.

Some people have had a lot of trouble breaking the lower ball joint loose as well. Mine never put up much of a fight. Mine comes out every time with a pry bar. You might need a proper ball joint puller (similar to the one in the shop manual). If you use a pickle fork, make sure you buy a new ball joint boot and some grease.


[Modified by mr2td, 8:47 AM 10/24/2002]

 

3-arm ball joint puller worked for me. Its kinda awekward to use, but once you get the hang of it, its easy.

 

I just did mine last month, it was really easy to pull out the axles but it was a b!tch to put them back on.

 

Thanks!!

 

I have a set of 3 month axles that I could sell you. However I will have to get back to you like this weekend because one is still connected to the spindle.. But it'll probably just be easier for you to rebuild the ones you got since you live out in Cali anyways..

 

For that 36mm nut... If you don't have an impact gun, have someone step on the brakes while turning the nut (or attempting to) with a breaker bar and a piece of pipe over the end to lengthen it. The longer the pipe over the end of the breaker bar the more mechanical advantage you have...
Note: I had my GF stand on the brakes and the breaker bar/pipe still turned the rotor. I eventually had my friend with a service truck for tractor trailers come with a 1" impact to break them loose... Good Luck

 

I'm always afraid an extreme extension on the breaker bar will either break the breaker bar or the socket and have metal fragment hurling through the air at extreme velocities. I have this vision of the bar being split down the middle forming a sharp edge where the handle is and slicing through my hand. I'm always scared to put all my strength into the bar.

 

I dont know why everyone doesnt get an impact wrench they are cheap these days I bought mine for $40 and it has 400 lbs of torque and I bough a huge set of deep socketed impact sockets for another 40 raning from 8-36mm. Alot of people have compressors to so it seems like a cheap invest to me to have around and not have bloody nuckles

 

I get that same feeling sometimes...
What about when your trying to losen a nut but you don't want to apply all of your strength because when it breaks lose your going to punch a solid piece of steel. I have personally assaulted a few brake calipers...

 

I dont have a compressor.

 

Calipers, catalitic converters, lower control arms, and engine blocks. The cases are still pending.

 

I had to jump on my 2ft breaker bar with some one else standing on the brakes to get mine loose ,

 

I'd rather break some sockets and a breaker bar than my knee.

 

Won't be beat...I just read the thread in your sig and I'm in awe of how pathetic that kid is

 

I got mine off with an electric impact wrench the other day. 36mm. I needed to get my rotors off and do a stock-stock replacement. Damn, if I only read the legend brake swap before I bought the parts, I would have looked for those...