Axel Replacement front both sides 2006 TC

[GovTC]

Looking to replace my front axel. the OEM one is making a cracking noise. Need some insite on how hard it will be to so myself or do I need to take it to the shop and let them do it. I want to buy an aftermarket one from Dezod or Ptuning.Looking to see if this is something i can do at the house with jack stands or does it need to be done at the shop

Thanks for the help.

[okie]

first question is how much experience do you have working on cars? I have taken them out and put them back on sitting in a driveway and a garage with nothing more that jack stands and mostly basic tools?

[navylife59]

If anything, it is the CV Joint. These are very durable so it is rare for a normal wear failure. They can handle the abuse of 400WHP so a 300WHP DD should be no prob. Are you positive it is the axle and not possibly something else? Find a parking lot (empty) and back the car up making a sharp turn doing about 5-10MPH. After a 360 and w/o stopping, turn the wheel slowly but deliberately all the way in the other direction. Now complete that 360 and stop. Did you hear and/or feel any popping noise or irregularities? If you did, it is most likely a bad CV Joint. If the noise/vibration only happened when the steering wheel translated from lock to lock, then might be an upper strut mount. A bad wheel bearing can do all of the above but will also make a whrring and/or a grinding noise going down the highway.

Note: Please check your wheels for damage and that your lug nuts are all torqued properly. I had the lugs on my driver's rear wheel loosen up on me after an 8 hour drive. After I pulled off the highway onto a boulevard, I had similar symptoms. Much to my shock. The tire shop did not torque my lugs down after I had a bad tire replaced. From that point on, if I can't do the work myself and someone else messes with my wheels, I request that I do the final torque. Most shops don't have a prob with this because if your wheel were to fall off, you can't sue them.