wow!!! you guys found out my secret!! i have 4 pairs of carquest 1/2 shafts installed in customers cars!!!! have had no trouble out of any of them. availability has always been about 2 days. price is around $70 and warranty is lifetime. ive been more than satisfied with them.

rwt- when i got my carquest shafts (btw paid much more than any 68.00 for em .. ) they told me only 3 were available in ny/nj/ct
as one of the rebuilding factories had run out of cores.
hope the replacement you get is ok and your car (sweeet looking) is back on the road.

i have put about 7000 miles on my carquest shafts with no problems sofar.
bob

Hello all , I have just replaced my right side from Carquest , after the joint was making knocking sounds for a couple of months. The price was under 100 dollars and only took one day to get. Good deal, Easy install and considering the price can go way up on these cv joints.

protect those boots
 

hmmm, after reading the first page, I have to wonder if there is something that can be applied to the boots to keep them in good, protected condition on the outside.

I had one joint fail due to a torn boot, at 75mph on the interstate, leaving me stranded in TN, dont want that to happen again...

I like the idea of the two-part boot as a precaution. Maybe Ill do that on the 'old side' anyway.

Say one was to loose grease, could they theoretically take some grease in a syringe (or even with their fingers), apply it around and on the joint, and keep it going for a while?

JMH

Its Fixed!! (hopefully for good...)
 

Picked up a "new" reman axle at Pep Boys this morning. I handed over the "exploded" unit and they refunded my money +$10 extra. I think that was their mistake but I'm not argueing about it. New axle installed today in about an hour. Test drive successful. No popping, clicking or banging like the last one. So I have a Carquest axle on the left and a PepBoys on the right. I found it interesting that both axles have grease in them instead of the MB type oil. Don't know what the difference will be in longevity but they are both "lifetime guaranteed" so I don't really care. Also I think the failure I had may have been due inpart to installation. I have a feeling that the inner joint overextended (stretched out) due to the outer joint being very tight during installation. This time I was very carefull and after installing I rotated the tire while pulling on the shaft to center it between the CV joints. If the joint was in fact overextended when first installed then the act of first putting it in gear may have caused it to pop out and damage itself. Just a thought. RT

ps. I am also in the habit of spraying silicone lube on all rubber bushings, boots, etc. under vehicles. I try to do this every other oil change or so. I believe it helps preserve them to some degree. If you disagree with this practice I would love to know why.

I think the "MB oil" is just grease that has broken down!

So, don't worry- you've just got axles with new grease. Are the pep boys and Carquest axles rebuilt by different places? AKA TRW? or does it say anything?

Michael

samiam4
 

Two different boxes from PepBoys. ProLine-thats the one that went "bang". Can't remember who the others from PepBoys or Carquest were.... If you put all the axles next two each other they were identical, boots, color, grease, etc. My guess is only one supplier. RT

I dont think the rubber on these boots of today are as good as years back , why who knows , the ones on the 240d were 19 years old according to my records but hey, they might have been put on at least once but even at that is incredible. I have an 84 VW Vanagon that I keep In excellent cond, and I replaced the German boots only two or so years ago, and they are already cracking. The van has even sat most of the time in the garage. But now I use it full time , as My wifes 88 Isuzu Troopers head has cracked again long story.