![]() When we interviewed Jay Jindal, owner and lead mechanic at Jindal-Andre Automotive Services in Washington, D.C., he explained to us that repairing an axle is often all that’s needed: “We rarely replace the entire axle assembly and instead try to fix what’s wrong. Whether or not your axle can be repaired depends on what’s wrong with it and your mechanic’s opinion. (RepairPal estimates that the average CV boot replacement costs between $325 and $372.) Others say that if the CV boot has failed, then it’s already too late - there may be unseen damage to the CV axle itself, so it’s best to go ahead and replace the entire axle and boot assembly. However, repair isn’t always an option, and people sometimes disagree about how viable repairs are.įor example, many shops and do-it-yourself enthusiasts will replace the CV boot alone, which is the rubber housing protecting the metal components of the axle from road debris. ![]() It’s possible to repair an axle - solid or CV - without having to replace it, and it’s usually cheaper, too. To give you a better idea of what a car axle replacement might cost on your vehicle, we called five mechanics nationwide to get axle replacement quotes for three sample vehicles: a Honda Civic with CV axles upfront, a Ford F-150 with a solid axle in back and a BMW with a pair of performance CV axles in the rear.Ĭan you fix an axle without replacing it? CV axles are an integral part of your suspension, so if you drive one of those vehicles, you can expect to pay more than average for a replacement. High-end luxury and performance vehicles, like Audis, BMWs and Porsches, also tend to have highly sophisticated suspension setups. ” - Nick Zeman, shop manager at Fastlane Auto Import Repair in Atlanta That’s because any axle in the front of the vehicle is going to be under far more stress by design AND take more abuse from bad road conditions.” Any axle in the front of the vehicle is going to be under far more stress by design AND take more abuse from bad road conditions. ![]() “CV axles on front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles always fail much faster. We consulted Nick Zeman, shop manager at Fastlane Auto Import Repair in Atlanta, to explain why. That’s why our sample quotes below show a gulf in price between an axle replacement for a Ford F-150 - which uses a solid rear axle - and our other two sample vehicles.įront-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles also tend to require CV axle replacements much more often than rear-wheel-drive vehicles, but it really comes down to whether your CV axles are positioned in the front (such as in most FWD and AWD vehicles) or in the rear (such as in most RWD vehicles with independent suspension). Generally speaking, it’s far cheaper to replace a solid axle than a CV axle due to the solid axle’s simpler design. Some enthusiasts prefer solid axles over CV axles for their simplicity and durability. Some classic cars, trucks and specialty off-road vehicles have what’s known as a solid axle - a simple, straight beam connecting the wheels without a pair of CV axles.All-wheel-drive vehicles typically have four CV axles - one for each wheel.Rear-wheel-drive vehicles typically have two CV axles in the back, but that’s only if the vehicle has independent suspension.Front-wheel-drive vehicles typically have two CV axles up front.One reason for that is because different cars have different axle configurations: However, axle replacement costs can vary a lot. The average cost to replace a constant velocity (CV) axle is between $1,026 and $1,176, according to RepairPal (a site that compiles repair cost data). How much does it cost to replace an axle? Otherwise, you can sometimes lower the repair bill by calling multiple shops and negotiating for a better price. You can potentially get your axle replaced for free if your vehicle is under a powertrain warranty. ![]() It may be possible to repair your axle for less money, but some mechanics say that it’s best to replace the entire axle in case of hidden damage.(CV axles on front wheels tend to fail much faster because they’re under more stress and take more abuse from the road.) The most common type of axle replacement is for a constant velocity (CV) joint on a front-wheel-drive car.On average, it costs around $1,200 to replace an axle, but our sample quotes from real mechanics ranged from $531 on a Ford F-150 to $2,325 on a BMW 740i.So, if you’ve heard the telltale “knocking” sound when turning - or your mechanic has already told you it’s time for a new car axle - what can you expect? What will a new axle cost? And how can you lower your bill? (Better yet, can you get a car axle replaced for free?) However, they can be more complicated than you might think, and they’re critical to keeping your car on the road. An axle may seem simple - it helps connect a wheel to the rest of your car and get that wheel spinning.
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