Expert Driveshaft and CV Axle Repair in Boise
If your car or truck has been driven over 100k miles, you’re approaching the time when driveshaft and CV axle repair may be on the horizon. No matter what type of car or truck you drive, it has one or more driveshafts with u-joints or CV axles. These components work together to take power produced by the engine and send it to the wheels and tires.
To avoid confusion, be aware you may hear CV axles referred to as CV joint drive axles. The term CV refers to constant velosity, which means they keep a constant speed even when their angle changes as in when traveling around turns or going over bumps.
CV axles require no ongoing maintenance. As long as the rubber boot that holds the grease in is undamaged, they will run until they wear out without needing maintenance. Every driveshaft has universal joints, usually called u-joints. For years, these joints had fittings that needed to have grease added during oil change services. Today’s newer vehicles have u-joints that are sealed like CV axles, which means they run until they need to be replaced.
Driveshafts, along with a transfer case, transmission, and differential(s) make up what is known as the drivetrain. Driveshafts carry the engine’s power from the transmission to the vehicle’s differential, and then to the wheels. They come in a variety of combinations depending on your vehicle type. Here are the most common drivetrain arrangements with the varied components they have:
• Front wheel drive – 2 CV axles
• Rear wheel drive – 1 driveshaft with 2 u-joints
• All wheel drive – 2 or 4 CV axles and 1 or 2 driveshafts
• Four wheel drive – 2 CV axles and 2 driveshafts
To see a CV Axle animation and video about how axles work, what CV boot failure does, and other helpful information you can see them on the Napa Service Assistant page connected to our website.
Professional Installation of OEM Grade Parts with a National Warranty
At AutoTranz Transmissions we are a Napa AutoCare Center and many of the drivetrain parts we install are from Napa. These parts meet or exceed OEM quality standards and give our customers a national 24 month or 24,000 mile warranty.
There are some situations were using OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts rather than aftermarket provides the best solution. Our mechanics keep up-to-date on these situations so you can be secure in knowing the parts we install ensure your repair lasts as long as the original manufacturer intended.
Your Trusted Source for CV Joint Axle Replacement
Our ASE certified drivetrain technicians and mechanics are proficient at driveshaft and CV axle repair procedures. We take pride that we have over 30 years of professional transmission and drivetrain repair experience. Whether you’re driving a Ford F150, GM or Dodge pick-up truck, or an import car or SUV from Subaru, Toyota or Honda, we’ve got you covered on driveshaft, CV and u-joint repair.
If your front wheel drive car has a vibration or clicking noise on acceleration while making a sharp turn, it could be a bad CV joint drive axle. Most shops can replace CV axles, but be aware there are many inexpensive axles that won’t last as long as a quality part.
The CV joint flexes on turns and carries the heavy load from the engine and weight of the car. This load stretches the rubber CV boot that covers the joint to keep the lubricating grease inside. The most common failures occur when one of the rubber CV boots cracks due to age. As the vehicle is driven and the axle spins, grease in the joint gets thrown out. Without enough grease to lubricate its moving parts, the CV joint will start to make a clicking noise during turns.
CV drive axles have two joints, and each joint has 2 boots. When one boot fails, the others aren’t far behind. Replacing boots on a drive axle is usually not the most effective repair because a replacement axle can be purchased and installed for less labor time than it would take a mechanic to replace a cracked boot. In almost all cases, you save money by just replacing the complete axle.
In some cases, if the CV boot has been damaged for a long enough time interval, most of the grease will be gone. Without lubrication, the joint has likely suffered damaged and boot replacement would not repair the problem.
Our AutoTranz transmission and drivetrain parts are guaranteed for a minimum of 12 months or 12,000 miles. Our Napa parts come with their national 24 month, 24,000 mile warranty. Napa is our first choice for parts we install. You can be certain you’re protected with quality parts and the national warranty when Napa parts are used. And when you pay for Napa parts with the Napa credit card, your warranty will extend to 36 months or 36,000 miles of coverage.
Parma’s Best Choice for Driveshaft Repair or Replacement
If your car, pick-up truck, or SUV is a rear-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle, it has a minimum of one driveshaft and possibly two. The u-joints in the driveshaft serve the same purpose as the CV joint on an axle. They allow the shaft to flex over bumps while continuing an even supply of power.
Unlike CV joints, u-joints and driveshafts on some vehicles need maintenance service. When the driveshaft slip-yoke, or u-joint has a grease fitting, it should always be greased during engine oil change service procedures.
These joints will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. When one joint fails the shaft has to be removed for the fix. Failure of one joint is usually followed by failure of the second, or third when present. This is the reason any u-joint repair at AutoTranz Transmissions includes replacement of all u-joints on that shaft. Our professional mechanics strive to provide driveshaft repairs that ensure you won’t need a repair or replacement for the next 100,000 miles.
Noise or vibration while driving that indicates a possible driveshaft problem would be:
• High pitched squeak noises when backing up
• Shaking sensation felt in your feet while driving
• Clunk sound or sensation during shifts from park to drive or reverse
If you have any of these symptoms, it’s important to have it diagnosed as soon as possible. Waiting can cause additional damage that will increase the cost of the driveshaft repair.
To help extend the life of u-joints on your driveshaft, ask your repair professional if the ones on your vehicle have grease fittings. If fittings are present, request that they be greased each time your vehicle has an oil change. Inexperienced oil change mechanics may not always look for these grease fittings.
If you currently drive a pre-owned vehicle, repair work may have been done prior to your purchase. Be aware that although the vehicle’s OEM driveshaft may not be listed with grease fittings, there may be grease fittings if a replacement driveshaft has been installed. At your first oil change maintenance service, ask the technician to do a visual driveshaft inspection instead of relying on information found in the vehicle’s manufacturer specifications.
Conclusion
Even though your odometer displays more than 100,000 miles, you may have many miles left before driveshaft and CV axle repair is necessary. With improvements in the quality of parts over the last 10 years, drivetrain components often run longer. Idaho drivers, however, who find frequent unpaved mountain or desert roads, need to watch for symptoms of drivetrain problems since catching them early can save money. Something as simple as road debris, like a sharp rock or stick, can puncture a CV boot no matter what the mileage reads.
What ever your drivetrain or auto repair needs are you can count on AutoTranz Transmissions to provide quality parts, master craftsmanship in our installations, and the security of our national warranty. Call our centrally located facility in Parma in the heart of Canyon County today at (208) 722-7429 or request an appointment online. Let our experts inspect your vehicle so you can drive with confidence.