AWD Rear axle questions

[4gfun]

Going to post some newbie and more advanced questions here. Answers to any or all questions are appreciated.

The other day I broke a C-clip going to my rear axle as shown by the red circled area in the picture (this is someone elses car that I hijacked a pic from but the idea is the same).

I drove it around on a tie wrap but completely forgot to put a more final solution in place.

I drove it like this for a few days and then heard a loud squealing grinding from the car (only happens at slow speeds and is not constant).

It sounds like what happens when a brake rotor is rusty.

I checked my rear brakes and I do need pads and the rotors need to be turned but I can't be sure that the brakes are the source of my noise and from what I hear the squeaking or grinding noise is not likely an axle (but anything is possible I guess).

Questions:

1) Is there a way to get grease back in there without having to pull the axle? I hear that the rear axles are a pain to remove and often break when doing so. The vehicle has only been driven for a few days like this so doubt any dirt got but one never knows.

2) What other axles interchange with a 3 bolt LSD left rear axle?

3) Has anyone ever heard of an axle making noises like that? I figure if the axle was bad I would know it.

4) What sort of grease goes in there?

Thanks

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[BowDownRacing]

Where are you trying to put grease? Grease will only go in the axle boot and oil in the rear end. You can put oil in the rear end but will require a hose to fill it and as far as the grease Im lost to where you want to install in.

 

[TSiAWD666]

If you're talking about the cv joint boot then the clamp isn't call a "c-clip". Figured we should clear that up before this gets any more confusing. It's typically just referred to as a cv joint boot clamp.

If you left that loose and drove it around spewing the grease outward you indeed may have ruined the cv joint. You can try to re-pack the grease and install a clamp, but there's no way any of us can guarantee this will fix things for you.

To re-fill you can buy from a local auto parts store cv axle boot grease. It's really thick goopy stuff and you'll have to pack it into the boot. You can just slide the boot back a bit off the cv joint so that you can shove grease in there. I suggest using rubber gloves Once packed with grease you'll need to put a cv boot clamp on there. These typically require a matching tool in order to crimp it in place. I say matching because there are a couple different styles of clamps and each has a specific crimping tool Using them should be self explanatory.

I can't recall the diameter clamp you'll want so you'll want to take a measurement (or look in the service manual perhaps, or hope someone chimes in here) and then order the correct size. A local auto parts store should have a clamp and matching tool that should work for you.

Doing all this is pretty easy to do, so just get the parts and get to it.

 

[pauleyman]

I dont know why you would think of the axle will break by removing it. If you need to remove it do so. Easy.

 

[4gfun]

Thanks, but not sure why you would be lost. I mentioned grease in the axle boot not the rearend.

Where are you trying to put grease? Grease will only go in the axle boot and oil in the rear end. You can put oil in the rear end but will require a hose to fill it and as far as the grease Im lost to where you want to install in.

If you're talking about the cv joint boot then the clamp isn't call a "c-clip". Figured we should clear that up before this gets any more confusing. It's typically just referred to as a cv joint boot clamp.

If you left that loose and drove it around spewing the grease outward you indeed may have ruined the cv joint. You can try to re-pack the grease and install a clamp, but there's no way any of us can guarantee this will fix things for you.

To re-fill you can buy from a local auto parts store cv axle boot grease. It's really thick goopy stuff and you'll have to pack it into the boot. You can just slide the boot back a bit off the cv joint so that you can shove grease in there. I suggest using rubber gloves Once packed with grease you'll need to put a cv boot clamp on there. These typically require a matching tool in order to crimp it in place. I say matching because there are a couple different styles of clamps and each has a specific crimping tool Using them should be self explanatory.

I can't recall the diameter clamp you'll want so you'll want to take a measurement (or look in the service manual perhaps, or hope someone chimes in here) and then order the correct size. A local auto parts store should have a clamp and matching tool that should work for you.

Doing all this is pretty easy to do, so just get the parts and get to it.

Very helpful post, thanks for the specifics. This was exactly what I was looking for. I ended up getting another used axle so that the odds will be that there is no guess work since you are correct. There are no guarantees that even that will work but at least I can look back at this post in 10 years should I want to fix the old one.

Dunno, I had read that before. A few people mentioned it so that was enough to worry me.

I dont know why you would think of the axle will break by removing it. If you need to remove it do so. Easy.

 

[pauleyman]

Unles you are n the rus belt I would have no concerns. Every damn bolt under the car seems to be a problem in the rusty states

 

[4gfun]

Nope in VA...not that great here either but not like the rust belt.

Unles you are n the rus belt I would have no concerns. Every damn bolt under the car seems to be a problem in the rusty states

 

[TSiAWD666]

I didn't notice you were in VA. Get that vr4 fixed up and then you should come to VIR for a track event. Should be only about 2-2.5 hours drive for you!

 

[jed344]

if you pull the cv shaft pray it comes out of the hub... EVERY single wheel bearing on my car had to be replaced could not get the cv out of it. Had to torch the shaft out of them.

 

[4gfun]

VIR? I am waiting for old Dominion Raceway to get moved from Manassas to Thornburg then track days will be right around the corner.

I didn't notice you were in VA. Get that vr4 fixed up and then you should come to VIR for a track event. Should be only about 2-2.5 hours drive for you!

if you pull the cv shaft pray it comes out of the hub... EVERY single wheel bearing on my car had to be replaced could not get the cv out of it. Had to torch the shaft out of them.

 

[TSiAWD666]

Old Dominion's not the kind of track I was talking about...

 

[Selling4G63TParts]

You can buy new boots for the axle and its not that hard to replace. I just replaced both my front drive shafts and it took about an hour total. Based on the location of the shaft and how boots go on the shaft I you cant pull just that end that is linking up to the rear diff. You'll have to pull it out, slip off the old boot and put the new one on. Then you get to grease that bastard up and put it back in. As long as you torque everything to spec you should be okay. If your pads are worn then replace them anyway. It doesn't cost much and you always need proper stopping ability.