mercuryrising17 Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 I am broke down at a truck stop 60 miles from home andneed some input. My fronds passenger axle has been going out and on my trip tonight my car started shakin real bad. My steering will keeps syaking and pulling to the side. Could a bad axle cause this problem or is it more likely something else? I took the tires off and they both look good and the tie rods look ok the only problem I can see is the torn boot on the axle. I need some input fast please and thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercuryrising17 Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 Sorry I left out some details. It is a 2002 Subaru legacy gt. Sorry for the misspelled words I am posting from my phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subruise Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 could be axles or stuck/dragging brakes. check your calipers for slideabilty. they should move easily. hth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebugs Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 If this JUST happened you should be able to feel the rim for hot brakes if the caliper is hanging up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 If you are someplace safe, take the jack and jack up the wheel in question. Spin it by hand. If it is a shot CV joint, you will hear it immediatly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercuryrising17 Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 I had changed the tire earlier and checked for play with both hubs. No play and there was no heat coming from the calipers that i could tell of. The wired part is that when I pulled off the road and stopped then started going again the shaking stopped for a while then started again. Looks like ill probably be changing an axle at a truck stop tomorrow. Sigh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 There is a speed threshold at which the joint falls out of the cage and starts the imbalance. Technically you can limp home if that speed is reasonable, but usually it is 20mph murphies law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Since you just recently changed a tire, make sure that the lug nuts are tight. A loose road wheel will cause a lot of shaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercuryrising17 Posted January 22, 2012 Author Share Posted January 22, 2012 I actually changed the tire after it started shaking to see if that was the problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Pack the axle joints with grease. They are dry and are binding from friction and heat. GD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodsWagon Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 Had the same thing happen to me a few years back, as the joint seized up it started shaking the steering wheel something fierce, I though a wheel was coming off. I repacked the CV joint with wheel bearing grease, duct-taped a bread bag around it to serve as a boot, and made it the last 150 miles home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idosubaru Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 been there, done that. it's the axle. stuff it full of grease and you can drive cross country (you'll just need to stuff it a couple of times). GD is right. i've done this multiple times, i drove two thousand miles from Colorado to Maryland doing this (i bought a tub of grease and made multiple stops). for kicks i rebooted that axle when i got home and it's been fine since then - over two years ago. i won't call that normal or a good idea. the joints are heating up and expansion is causing temperature related interference. it goes away when you stop and let it cool down to ambient temperatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davebugs Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 New thought! If you think it's the axle they make a needle for the end of a grease gun. Not every parts store has them. I got one several years ago to play with adding grease to idler pulleys then decided that wasn't the way to go. But it would pierce the boot and you could load the joint up with grease to get home or a better place to work on it. Certianly simpler that boot or axle removal along the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bork Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 been there, done that. it's the axle. stuff it full of grease and you can drive cross country (you'll just need to stuff it a couple of times). GD is right. i've done this multiple times, i drove two thousand miles from Colorado to Maryland doing this (i bought a tub of grease and made multiple stops). for kicks i rebooted that axle when i got home and it's been fine since then - over two years ago. i won't call that normal or a good idea. the joints are heating up and expansion is causing temperature related interference. it goes away when you stop and let it cool down to ambient temperatures. Same old joint is still in operation? Original axle/CV? Wow, that means original CVs are that good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercuryrising17 Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Well it was the axle that was causing the problem. Had to change it in a truck stop parking lot, it was 30 degrees but more like 10 with the wind chill. Runs great now though! Thanks for all the input guys now all I have to do is in thaw my whole body. definatley not the ideal place to work on a car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster2 Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Glad to hear that you got it fixed. Sounds like your trip will be remembered for a long while! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bork Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Where did you get it on a Sunday? Or you carry a spare? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercuryrising17 Posted January 27, 2012 Author Share Posted January 27, 2012 Autozone to the rescue. I had actually had the part held under my name because I thought it was going out just hadnt had time to go get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unibrook Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Had the same thing happen to me a few years back, as the joint seized up it started shaking the steering wheel something fierce, I though a wheel was coming off. I repacked the CV joint with wheel bearing grease, duct-taped a bread bag around it to serve as a boot, and made it the last 150 miles home. That is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1997reduxe Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 but not as beautiful as that damned bread bag idea. I only wish i'd have heard that a few months ago! i coulda gotten a few more years outta my bad axle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bork Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) Deleted Edited January 27, 2012 by bork Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bork Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 but not as beautiful as that damned bread bag idea.I only wish i'd have heard that a few months ago! i coulda gotten a few more years outta my bad axle... :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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