CV Axle going bad?

What are some of the signs of a cv axle going bad? I've been noticing a shake/vibration coming from my front drivers side wheel at highway speeds. It feels similar to a tire being out of balance. I had my tires balanced a few weeks ago. Did the wheel bearing a month ago. The ball joints and tie rods are fairly new. The one thing that isn't new is my cv axle. The drivers side cv boot does have a very slight tear. I don't have the classic symptom of clicking when it turns. Could a worn cv axle being causing the highway shake? Is there anything else I can do to check to cv axle?

 

louder/ higher pitched the faster you go?


You may be like me (and an older fellow I know with same noise) and looking next at needle bearing in the front diff, driver's side.

 

Zero noise associated with it. It's a shake that I can feel just like an out-of-balance tire...

 

CVs are a little hard to diagnose as loose. There's a bit of flop to new ones when you grab and shake them.
Mine is a vibration also but has progressed to a hum. I've traded tires/CVs/ even went back in checking new wheel bearings. That needle is next.


FWIW: Most people associate bad CVs w/ a 'click' especially turning.

 

Was it doing it before you had your tires rebalanced? It's possible that they didn't balance very well, and this could be causing the issue. You could check by rotating the front/rear tires and seeing if the vibration goes away or moves to the rear of the truck.

 

I got the tires rebalanced after I noticed the vibration thinking that was the problem. It didn't help. So I guess what I'm left with is it's either the cv axle or the needle bearing. I don't think it's the needle bearing because the truck isn't lifted & I don't have the vibration between 35-50 mph like others complain about. The vibration is only noticeable at highway speeds from 60 mph & up...

Has anybody out there had my symptoms and it turned out to be a cv axle? These are the same cv axles that came with the truck new, so they have 270,000 miles on them...

 

hmmm, mine is only at hwy. also. I'll take cues from you. I've changed (swapped with someone) CVs already though. No change.


has progressively gotten worse over a few years.

 

I had similar issues...replaced the carrier bearing, tires rebalanced, removed my wheel spacers...vibration from 60-65 mph now gone, but now have a rotational (reminds me of a wheel bearing going, but replaced those as well) vibe that seems to be located in the diff area.

Needle bearings are a new source to check...I was also going to look at my front drive shaft u-joints...

EDIT: added all new steering components, along with CV's about 15K ago...so hoping that's not the source now.

 

Yea, i did my U joints and carrier bearing. CB was on it's way out anyway but made no change, had 1 U joint i thought for sure was going to be it. Nope.

Goes to show you can get vibes w/o a lift that are hard to find.

 

Maybe I'm missing something but the CVs shouldn't be rotating unless your in 4wd, so how could it be the CVs at highway speeds in 2wd?

 

I don't have lock hubs, guessing he doesn't either.

BTW extra hard taco, yours do too if you didn't realize.

 

Unlike the old manual locking hubs, ADD hubs don't disconnect the cv axle from the wheel, so the cv's are constantly spinning...

 

Roger that

 

Did you ever figure that vibration out? Having a similar issue with my 06

 

I'm curious as well.

My Tacoma got hit in the front left wheel and I've had a vibration issue since it was repaired.
New spindle, control arms, bearing, etc. Wondering if the cv joint somehow got bent....

 

man that's a big can of worms there.

 

It ended up being a tire (or tires). I replaced the tires due to mileage & the vibration completely disappeared. Happy it was something so simple...

 

Yeah, I am unhappy to say the least especially because the other driver was deemed 100% at fault. Had a new tire and reconditioned wheel put on as well during the repair. Rebalanced everything and that helped but still have the problem.
I'm going to do another rotation and see what happens. The only other thing that rotated relative to speed possibly affected by getting tboned is the cv joint.

 

Stupid question but have you had a wheel alignment done?

 

Yeah, they checked to make sure the frame was still straight and aligned it after the repair. Everything was good.