CV joint replacement for a '96 Toyota Avalon?

  • Thread starter Thread starter cheyney.lynn
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cheyney.lynn

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My car has been making the clicking noise whenever I turn, and I am guessing this is the CV joint axle that needs replacing. I am not a car person, so if this is wrong please let me know. I am wondering how much it would cost for me to have it replaced on average, and how long I could go without having it replaced, what are the dangers of that? Thanks for any help!
 
It's probably the CV joint, but sometimes something stuck in the side of the tire will cause a similar sound (like a nail). Also, sometimes something will be hanging in the wheel well (a wire, a stick, etc..) that is hitting the tire when it turns. Wishful thinking though...

With a 10 year old vehicle, the joint may be bad (they usually last 80 - 120 thousand miles before going). Having it replaced is usually fairly expensive, as there is a good amount of labor involved. It's also possible that th joint has lost all its grease due to a split or ripped boot around the joint. There are short term solutions for this (a CV boot repair kit), but they don't usually last very long (good if you need a few hundred miles of driving before replacing the joint), and they can be a PITA to install.

Call around and get an estimate on the work. Stay away from dealerships - with a ten year old vehicle they will tell you many other parts need replacing. Check with Pep Boys, Wal Mart, local garages, you'll probably get a better price. Replacing an axle is a straightforward job, not requiring a lot of skill, just a lot of time.

Hope that helps,
Jason
 
you can do it yourself for about $100 but a mechanic will charge you probably about $500. The more you drive that way, the more your cv joint wears. eventually, it will break and you wont be going anywhere. also, your tires will wear unevenly. It's never a good idea to let any problem go unattended with a car. If you replace it yourself, it shouldn't take more than a couple hours, even if you've never done it before. Last time I did one, it took 30 minutes and only cost $85. It was a camry, not an avalon, so it may cost a little more. Good luck.
 
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