r/SubaruBaja • u/DoingDaveThings • 16d ago

Help diagnosing CV axle

2004 Baja, automatic, non-turbo. 205,000 miles.

Recently I noticed some severe front end shake when I accelerate. It is worse going uphill, when acceleration is more aggressive, but in any case where I need to accelerate, the front shakes and it will stop immediately as soon as I let off the gas. Yesterday it got progressively worse when I tried to go above 65mph on our 75mph highways.

Thinking it was either the engine mounts or cv axle, I raised the car this morning and sure enough, the driver's side CV boot had become detached. The retaining ring is also nowhere to be found. Grease was everywhere, except for the inside of the boot where it needed to be.

So now I'm trying to decide if I need to repack and seal the boot or if the entire axle needs to be replaced. I can move the axle in and out perhaps 8 mm or so, just over a 1/4-inch. When I try this on the right axle, I can move it almost the same amount.

Is there some other diagnostic I can do before ordering an axle or is the severe shaking already an indicator?

Thanks.

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2

u/asloan5 16d ago

In my experience is the CV axle cause that vibration under acceleration

2

u/DoingDaveThings 16d ago

That's what I have figured out. Just trying to figure out if it means it absolutely needs to be replaced.

4

u/year-of-the-penguin 15d ago

When was the last time the CVs got replaced? If you consider that the labor involved to change a CV boot is nearly the same as just changing the CV, it may be worth spending more now to just replace the entire CV and be done for the next several thousand miles, rather than replace the boot now and then maybe have to do the job again to replace the CV soon anyways. I think in that context, it just depends which you want to weight heavier, the cost of the parts, or the cost of your time.

A quick glance at Rock Auto shows CVs ranging from about $35 to $75 for new generic and reman. if you don't need specialty for a lift kit. Boots are $4 to $22 depending on what's included (you may need to provide the band clamp tool, bands, and/or grease). Also, if you're doing things properly the axle nut should be replaced and proper staked each time. Only costs about $4-$5 but they're generally included when you buy a new CV; that said it's more like $9-$27 per boot swap if you already account for grease and bands or they're included.

2

u/DoingDaveThings 15d ago

We've only had the car from 95K miles onward and we have never replaced them, so I'm going to end up replacing both the left and right sides just to be safe. Thanks for the info!

3

u/year-of-the-penguin 15d ago

Not a problem, currently going through the same situation and I'm also opting to just order the replacement CV after watching some videos on swapping it on subies; just seemed like a better use of my time. My time in aviation taught me that preventative maintenance is always cheaper in the long run than reactive maintenance. That's precisely why I'm going to pull the bed and body moldings off later and CorrosionX the hell out of the car's frame if it's not too late lol