Author Topic: Any of you guys know a good place for axle installs in the CFL area?  (Read 1152 times)

Offline mcluvin

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Honda dealers wants ~$1100 for a pair of 2012 CR-V axles.  Raxles doesn't carry them.  CVO will rebuild mine for $75 each, but I've got to pull them and if he has to order parts my car is on jacks in my driveway for at least 3 days.
« Last Edit: May 13, 2016, 07:12:21 PM by mcluvin »

Offline k7

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$70.00 each, lifetime warranty at advance auto parts. start calling the chain stores local to you. should not run more than a 100 bucks a side.

not a difficult job. need a few specific tools, time, patience, and a decent youtube video.
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Offline mcluvin

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I've read so many posts about CR-V owners having problems with aftermarket axles.  I've ordered some salvage pulls with 49K miles on them.  Depending on how they look once I get them, I will probably have them rebuilt by CVO.

Offline mcluvin

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I finally got this taken care of.  The right inner CV joint is known to be problematic on CR-Vs.  Symptoms are vibration/shudder under hard acceleration and at higher speeds which is what I was experiencing. My salvage OEM axles with 49K miles arrived and guess what?  The right inner CV joint was bad.  Ha!  I got them cheap with the expectation of probably rebuilding anyway, so no big deal.  So got the right axle rebuilt by CVO for $79.  While I was there guess who else showed up?  A courier from the local Honda dealer.  That's where they get their axles rebuilt.  The CVO guy said sometimes they can't even source a new axle, so rebuild is their only option.

So I did this in my driveway.  The old axle wasn't coming out with all the YouTube tricks (hammer at it, pull with a chain and heavy object, pry with screwdriver).  I actually did a little bit of damage to the lip of the intermediate shaft support housing prying at it.  Here's what gets it out with ease, a slide hammer with FWD axle removal attachment.  Autozone rents them out for free.  I had that axle out with 2 easy whacks of the slide hammer.  It was that easy.  Amazingly I couldn't find a YouTube video showing this tool in use.  The only other problem area for me was the lower ball joint.  I just could not break it free and actually ended up damaging the boot trying some of those YouTube tricks.  What worked really well?  A tie rod removal tool from O'Reilly's loaner tool program.  Popped that sucker right out.

Local Honda dealer wanted $45 for a new lower ball joint.  I took a chance on the Moog equivalent even though the product description page says "Made in China".  After coupon they worked out to ~$26 each.  Picked them up at Advanced Auto and to my surprise the box and ball joint both say "Made in Japan".  Score!  My OEM ball joints don't even say that.

Big thanks to Joe for offering to help me with this.  I ended up doing it myself in my driveway.  It certainly took longer than I hoped, but I learned a few things and my problem is now solved.  That's always a good thing.  Time for a couple beers  ;)

Offline k7

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good tips on tools. usually you can turn the axle and press a bit up, and they'll come out. have not done a CRV, though.

the 1 problem on most DIY youtube videos, is most people give instructions using a hammer and a crowbar.

great tools. to open up a laptop....but they're not just for everything. :)


moog makes good parts. I have adjustable upper control arms on my element.
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Offline mcluvin

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I think I would have had better luck tapping the axle out if I had the car up higher.  I just had very limited access and they don't give you much room.  Yanking it out with a chain attached to the jack seemed like a good idea, but I have an aluminum jack and I just don't think it could get enough enough momentum, not to mention I probably was about to destroy a brake line if I kept at it.

I'm debating whether to do the other axle. I know I need to at least change the ball joint.  Everything seems fine but with 139K miles on it I probably may as well do it while I have it apart.  I was surprised at how rigid the rebuilt axle was compared to the left one that only had 49K miles on it.