Is a CV joint and CV Axle the same thing?
An axle is a straight shaft, a CV joint is a JOINT. CV joints are used in front wheel drive cars they allow the drive shaft to drive through an angle which is needed when steering or when suspension is moving..
Are axle shafts balanced?
Short axle shafts are typically solid steel, while longer drive shafts are usually tubular steel, aluminum or carbon fiber, to reduce weight. Because the shaft is a spinning drivetrain member, it is dynamically balanced to eliminate vibrations.
How does worn out CV affect axle balance?
A worn out CV will sometimes allow the axle to slop in the joint enough to make it vibrate. The axle then gets out of center and wobbles. As far as balance is concerned, the diameter is small enough that it isn’t anywhere near as critical as wheel balance.
Why are CV axles used in front wheel drive vehicles?
This joint allows the axle to transfer torque from the engine to the wheels consistently, even when the joint is turned at an angle. CV axles were built as front wheel drive vehicles became more common. Front wheel drive vehicles originally used axles with a cross shaped metal pivot between two carriers like on four-wheel drive vehicles.
When do you need a CV axle replacement?
Driving on an axle with a torn boot for too long will wear out the joint, making a CV axle replacement necessary. Bad CV axle symptoms include loud clicking when turning or accelerating and harsh vibration when driving.
Why does my Pelican axle shaft not balance?
The axle and CV joints are not big enough in diameter, at the rate they spin, to make balancing a big concern. And worn CV joints do indeed vibrate or rumble. I have at least one (perhaps four) hub that is not straight. This will get fixed soon by a lathe, when longer studs also go in.
What causes a CV axle to wear out?
The most common problem for CV axles comes when you have cracked or loose CV boots. This can happen the joints on either side of the axle, but most commonly it happens with the outer CV joint. Without the boot to hold the grease in and dirt out, the joint will lose its lubrication and wear out over time.
How much does it cost to get a CV joint on an axle?
Most half shafts (and axles that include the outboard CV joint only) are priced at $159, and most full shafts (shaft and two CV joints) are $229. CV joints are priced at $99 for outer joints and $109 for inner joints.
How many CV axles are there in a car?
It’s a shaft with constant-velocity (CV) joints that transfers the rotating torque to a drive wheel in a car. It might also be called a half shaft or drive shaft. A typical front-wheel drive car has two CV axles (CV shafts), one at each front wheel.
Can you change an after market CV axle?
Nobody really want pull the axle apart and change the boot because its just a greasy nasty mess. So it’s easier to just change the entire thing with something from the after market. But the chances of getting an after market axle that won’t give you a vibration; you know there’s a possibility there.