Lately my car has been making a popping sound from the passenger side front wheel well whenever i take off or making a stop. Does this sound like its the axle or does it sound like a cv joint that needs to be replaced? Damn thing is loud and annoying and wanna get this fixed asap. thanks

 

When one talks about needing to replace the axles, they usually mean the CV joints are messed up. The "axle" portion of the axle (not the CV joints) is basically just a straight bar that can't really malfunction unless it physically snaps.

What kind of popping sound is it making? Does it do it when you're turning? Have you ever serviced an axle before?

 

no and no. Never does it when i turn, just when im coming to a stop like right before i actually stop or sometimes when im taking off. Its like a popping/metal banging sound. Figured it was my cv joints, but wasnt too sure on it. If the axle did snap would i still be able to drive fine. like say if it only snapped a lil. I havent had a chance to look under the car yet, doing that tomorrow on my day off. The snap bugs the hell out of me. sounds like completely crap. How much is it for a new cv joint and they are relatively easy to replace no?

 

Okay, that's weird. Doesn't really sound like an axle/joint problem. If it were, it would occur first as you make a left or right turn. If it was the right axle, it would click as you turned right, and vice versa if you were turning left. It would progressively get worse and do it all the time (not just turning).

FYI: A snapped axle, you can't drive on. We have open differentials on our cars and the power would go to the side with the least resistance (your broken axle side). It would just spin and your car would go nowhere. Even with an LSD (limited slip), it probably wouldn't move the car much....it's still "limited." It's not a locking differential.

It's a soft click, not too loud. I certainly wouldn't describe it as a "popping/metal banging sound." Hmm. Could be your wheel bearings.

As for the ease in changing the axle/joints. It's very easy....but it also depends on your mechanical know-how. Personally, I find it easier to replace the entire axle. My local Pep Boys has them here for very cheap, provided you give them your original core. I believe Autozone and a few other places offer lifetime replacement axles.

You can purchase a boot repair kit for about $20 from any auto parts store as well if you don't want to replace the entire axle.

But again.....based on your description, I'd look elsewhere first before concluding it's the axles. Good luck.

 

Thanks for the good input. Ya it never does it when im turning, and the sound you thinking of is more of a constant ticking when your turning isnt it? It definately doesnt do that. Wheel bearings, i know nothing about that, is that tied in with the struts? cause it still does have the stock front struts which have about 195k miles on them.

I got pretty good mechanic know how. Only thing i really wouldnt attempt is rebuilding the bottom end of the car b/c of lack of tools and probably the tranny. For the most part everything else is pretty simple, never had a problem with axle/cv joint/boot before. And the one on the passenger side needs to be taking out of the tranny also, wasnt sure if you needed to drop the tranny or not.

Ill see if i can take it to a shop to take a look at it. Around the same time it started making this sound, my 1st and 2nd gear have been really hard to get in and out of gear when stopped completely. Wonder if that has anything to do with it. Like maybe something inside the tranny broke near the axle? I dunno

 

OK first if it was an axle then getting a new boot won't fix what is already messed up. You would have to get a new axle.
But that doesn't seem to be your problem. It looks as if you have a bad bushing or ball joint in your front end. Check your front end suspension parts. Thats definitely where I would start. Or maybe something in your brake system. But I am willing to put money on it, that its a bushing or ball joint thats bad or loose.

 

what kind of shop would you wanna take that to? a suspension/brake shop or just an import shop?

 

I don't know about in SLC but here in Reno and in just about all of nor cal the import shops Ive been to they don't know thier *** from a whole in the ground. I would take it too a suspension/brake place. They actually know what to look for. Thats what they do for a living and thats how they make a living. Not buy selling a turbo kit and installing an intake. I'm not hating on shop owners but come on guys some of the employess are pretty retarded and they say they are mechanics. If it's a good shop and they have good equipment then take it to them.

 

i'm willing to bet its a bad lower ball joint...i get the SAME exact noise but my lazy *** still hasnt replaced it...mine is also 10x worse since when i turn the steering wheel from a stop, its super loud (like rubber rubbing on metal)....annoying as hell

 

I was going to be specific and say lower ball joint. But thats not always the case. It is most likely the case though. The whole suspension should be checked out though.

 

lol ya i hear ya, they will try to sell me a whole new drivetrain if it was up to half of the import shops lol. how much is it for a new lower ball joint, like you were talking about? And do shops like autozone, checker usually have these? Think i may check my helms and replace it tomorrow if i can.

 

I don't know the price but autozone should be able to get them for you. Probably much cheaper than honda/acura. They probably don't stock it though.