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Axle Play

Burbman

Burbman

New member
Trying to diagnose a vibration that only happens when you accelerate, goes away when you lift off the gas. Pretty sure it's one of the axles, but none of boots are torn or anything else to indicate which one is bad. On the driver's side, the axle has about 1/8" of play if you were to grab it and push it/pull it towards and away from the transmission, so linear play, not lateral.

Are these axles supposed to have any play? If so how much is acceptable?
 


I had this going on when the drivers side cv axle was going bad. The whole front end of the car would vibrate under acceleration and go away when I let off the gas. It could possibly be a hub bearing too.


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That amount of play sounds normal. Could be several things from a out of balance tire, to an under-infalted tire, to a bad bearing, to even a bad mount.
 
The right side bearing is new, like a week old. There is zero wiggle on the left side wheel when you grab it at 12 and 6, so I'm guessing it's not that. My experience with wheel bearings is that the noise is speed related, and you'll hear the noise or feel the vibration whether you are accelerating pr decelerating. Same with a tire, if it's out of balance it's going to vibrate at a certain speed regardless if you are on the gas or not. A bad axle usually gives you the vibration on acceleration and the noise goes away when you get off the gas. Of course I just had the right wheel off to change the washer pump, but forgot to check the axle....I guess I'll have to jack it up again LOL. But of both axles look OK how do you tell which one is going bad?
 
It doesnt have to look bad to be bad. It can look perfect yet still be a bad part. You can open them up after you've removed them and inspect the insides and see broken pieces inside the cup or worn grooves.

This sounds like an axle problem to me. Trying to figure out which side is going to be very tough. Its only a 50/50 shot.
 


Heck if just replace em both. Their not to expensive and its a relatively easy to do

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You guys use reman units or should I bite the bullet and get hew ones? NAPA has new for $93 and reman for $50. Rock Auto is only slightly cheaper and the shipping would likely be more due to the weight.
 
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I've also heard what I would describe as a sharp knock or snapping noise that sounds like it's right under your left foot when I accelerate with the wheels turned sharply to the right, like when pulling out of a parking space or driveway. Not all the time, but sometimes. If I blame that on a failing CV joint, that would tip the scales toward the left axle.
 


When you accelerate, try turning a little left or right,. If the issue happens or doesn't in one direction or the other, it's axle related.
 
Did this today, kinda by accident...was accelerating around a sweeping right hand turn and the shudder got much worse...I'm thinking if I was turning right, it should be the left axle, correct?
 
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