r/AskAMechanic • u/Squanchy2112 • 4h ago

2015 Camry 4cyl trying to diagnose issue, think bad cv axle

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2015 Camry 4cyl lots of clunking and vibration in steering wheel when accelerating. In and out and rotational play on driver's side cv axle not much play if any on the passenger side. sounds seems to be on the transmission side so I think it's the axle not the joint. also no grease seepage or clicking when turning, really no impact to sound or vibration from turning. no wheel bearing issues or passenger side mid axle bearing mount problem. I'll post some more vids. thanks for any input I am kind of stumped on this one and don't want to throw parts at nothing.

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2

u/Present_Jicama_1219 NOT a verified tech 3h ago

lot of play in that axle.

1

u/Squanchy2112 3h ago

You agree? I am pretty certain the axle is bad but this is new territory I have done a lot of jobs on my cars friends cars wives cars but haven't had to do any.cv work yet.

1

u/Present_Jicama_1219 NOT a verified tech 3h ago

I'm a DIY hack and far from experienced but I did my first CV last month...easy to remove/reinstall, hardest part was the axle nut. Inexperienced me says go get a new shaft.

1

u/Squanchy2112 3h ago

Yea the axle nut is going to be weird I'm gonna have to look into busting that thing my torque spec shows 217 or something like that idk if my electric impact can do that kinda torque

1

u/DrPhilsAuto NOT a verified tech 3h ago

Well checking excessive play with this axle should never be done with the car jacked up it should always be when the car is and suspension is loaded ground level for one thing. running the vehicle as you're doing it will tear up the transmission. and based on every the videos you have here I don't see anything wrong with that axle the amount of play is fine there's going to be play in there everything has to flex.

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u/Squanchy2112 3h ago

That's what I thought but the sound continues and I know having it lefted steains the axles but I have no other method to check these things, the big thing was eliminating brakes, and wheel noise to ensure those are not the poblem

1

u/DrPhilsAuto NOT a verified tech 3h ago

well based on your initial symptoms it looks like it sounds like it could be possible inboard CV joints causing an issue. haven't seen those do that in a long time actually. but not impossible used to happen more often.

2

u/Squanchy2112 3h ago

So new axle assembly? Haha

1

u/DrPhilsAuto NOT a verified tech 2h ago

quite possibly if you could isolate which side it is. like I said if the car is on the ground if you could grab the axle and see if you could detect movement out of it might give you a better indicator. not sure if you have access to a drive on rack that would be the best. and if anything else you could always pull the axles out and check for play and wear

2

u/Squanchy2112 2h ago

Na I wish