Front End Grinding Options

[airforceb2cc]

So I was driving down the wonderful Missouri roads last night and hit a massive puddle. After I got back on asphalt, I noticed that the steering wheel had a BAD shimmy at all speeds. It was very difficult to keep the car straight. I made it home and took a gander at the drivetrain and suspension. I noticed that both my CV boots at the hub are torn and need to get them replaced. I checked the tie rod ends, ball joints and sway bar brackets and all is secure. I put everything back together and took a test drive. I noticed a grinding sound whenever I turn while accelerating or decelerating and the wheel shimmy is intermittent. I think replacing the half shafts (the boots look like they have been torn for a while now) would fix my problem. Any other ideas?

This post has been edited by airforceb2cc: Feb 21, 2010 - 4:14 PM

[Spider77]

Replacing the shafts will probly be alot easier than replacing the boots themselves. I guess while you have all that torn up you might as well check all other related components thoroughly.

[808celica]

yes

[airforceb2cc]

Ok, after posting here I am almost certain that is my problem as it is more of a "ticking" sound than a grinding sound. Next question, I'm pretty mechanically inclined and am pretty pissed at myself for not checking the boots well enough every tire rotation. They were dry so I figured they were good. Anywho, how tough is it to swap out the shafts? It looks like the left side is pretty easy -- LHD car -- and the right side is going to be a bit harder. Is it as easy at it looks as far as tie rod off, axle nut retainer and nut off, rotate hub and pull shaft out of the tranny...or are there some clips I have to deal with?

[airforceb2cc]

Guess that'll do it huh?

[cyberblader1130]

Guess that'll do it huh?

Im not that sure about the right side but yes the left side on LHD is fairly easy. Empty out the fluids first though, otherwise youre going to get gear oil everywhere. You may want to get some fresh while your at it cuz filling it isnt that difficult. Like you said, pull the tie rod, the axle nut and ball joint if you have too. it might make it a little easier. Once your ready to tug on the half shaft, pry it out at the end thats in the tranny i think it is. Use a pry bar other wise you might end up pulling it apart and getting white grease everywhere. On the end of the shaft there is a small ring that locks the shaft into place. Please do correct me if im wrong since its been awhile since ive had to mess with it.

[blu94gt]

For both you'll remove the axle nut, probably undo the ball joints from the knuckles so you can swing them out of the way. Then drain the transmission.

For the driver's side you'll just pull or pry it out. I've had one just pull out by hand, and others that needed some big-time prying out. Hard to mess up prying it out, just get a decent pry-bar in there (not just a screwdriver).

For the passenger's side, if I remember correctly, there's a carrier on the back of the engine block that holds the axle. There are 2 bolts holding that to the block, remove those and the whole unit should come out freely.

Oh and yes, it sounds like this should take care of all of the problems you listed. My guess is they were torn, and after running thru the puddle it washed away a lot of the exposed grease and got water in to places it shouldn't get.

[808celica]

quick search using the search feature most people dont use

DIY driver's axel change
http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showto...mp;#entry775908