CV joint bad?

I got some creaking noise in the front right side...sounds like a bad cv joint....what is the best way to determine if this is the cause? the boot on the right side is cracked open, and i figured that was the best way to tell if its bad...

[J.McDonald Knives]

If the boot is messed up in any way its the CV and the whole axle has to be replaced. I had on that was cut all the way around.

[Mikey97D]

I got some creaking noise in the front right side...sounds like a bad cv joint....what is the best way to determine if this is the cause? the boot on the right side is cracked open, and i figured that was the best way to tell if its bad...

In a parking lot from a stop, turn the wheel all the way to either the right or left and slowly accelerate. You would hear a clicking or clacking noise. Try this in both directions of the steering wheel. The side the noise generates from is the cv joint.

If the side of the car with the ripped boot doesn't make noise, you can just replace the boot. Most garages will just replace the whole axle because the labor is about the same and a remanufactured axle is about $60-90. I would suggest spending the money for OEM axles if you go that route. I have an aftermarket axle from NAPA and it makes noise, clicks in the spline, and does some other funny crap.

[Airgne]

I got some creaking noise in the front right side...sounds like a bad cv joint....what is the best way to determine if this is the cause? the boot on the right side is cracked open, and i figured that was the best way to tell if its bad...

In a parking lot from a stop, turn the wheel all the way to either the right or left and slowly accelerate. You would hear a clicking or clacking noise. Try this in both directions of the steering wheel. The side the noise generates from is the cv joint.

If the side of the car with the ripped boot doesn't make noise, you can just replace the boot. Most garages will just replace the whole axle because the labor is about the same and a remanufactured axle is about $60-90. I would suggest spending the money for OEM axles if you go that route. I have an aftermarket axle from NAPA and it makes noise, clicks in the spline, and does some other funny crap.

+1 on this, but for me i would only do OEM subaru parts for the driveline. ive had bad exp with reman parts.

Ok, I will go try this out.

Sure enough, the popping sound is coming from the right hand side, where the cv boot is ripped. Sounds to me like a cv joint. Darn it. How long before I HAVE to have this replaced? Is it an emergent issue or can it wait awhile?

[J.McDonald Knives]

ASAP!!

Ah man, don't tell me that! I just spent over $500 at my mechanic this past week. GAH!!

[J.McDonald Knives]

Would you like to be able to drive it on it and then have to replace more stuff later or replace it now and be done with it for a lot longer.

True, true. Well, guess I'll see what it's going to cost to replace the boot vs the whole axle and boot. We're pretty broke right now...

[J.McDonald Knives]

If its clicking then its past repair and will need a new axle. The reason why it clicks is because the ball bearings are gone.

Ok, so where's the best place to buy a remanufactured axle? Definitely NOT the dealer. I hate dealers with a passion.

[J.McDonald Knives]

I would suggest spending the money for OEM axles if you go that route. I have an aftermarket axle from NAPA and it makes noise, clicks in the spline, and does some other funny crap.

^^^^^^+1

Go with OEM.

Argh that's aggravating. Will have to see if I can find one.

[J.McDonald Knives]

Call the dealership. The one in San Antonio always gives me list price and not sale price so I get stuff cheaper.

I've never had good luck with prices here at dealerships for ANY cars/trucks that I've had.

[Mikey97D]

Just tell your mechanic you want an OEM axle. Let them get the part from the dealer and then you don't need to deal with them.

My dad said he would help my husband put the axle in...so there's alot less money in labor costs lol. Gonna search around here for a good remanufactured axle.

[Mikey97D]

uugghh, your gonna dislike that reman. axle. Mine drives me nuts.

Why, what's it do or should I say doesn't do?

[Grafton]

my reman works fine...

How much did your reman cost and where did you get it?

[Huffer]

I bought two axles from ebay for $100 shipped...

[Airgne]

hansonmotors.com has brand new OEM cv halfshaft for around 300.

[track8]

I've used both OEM reman's and NAPA reman's on my Subies, and they both work fine so far. Just did the NAPA ones this spring so, we'll see how they are in a year or two.

I've had good results in the past with NAPA CV's on non-Subaru vehicles also, FWIW.

As with anything in life, your results may vary.

[1-3-2-4]

ASAP!!

Agree.. I did not do so and I had the CV fall apart just after making a turn.. it was also a Automatic and so it would grind when putting it in park.

Yeah, there's an ebay seller selling a pair of front axles for 112 shipped. I just have to save the money....we're broke as of this moment.

That's the left side, I took the car to Meineke...they said it was the rack and pinion that is bad, are these boots the rack and pinion?
They showed me the CV joints, the boots are good on both sides, but there are two boots towards the inside of the axle that are both torn....

[1-3-2-4]

Yes that is the rack and pinion boots I've never had any Subaru's that had them tear but I bet it's a PITA to replace :-/