I have a 1997 Honda Civic LX that I am having some problems with. I recently replaced the CV shafts and lower balljoints on both sides of the car. Not long ago my brother was driving and the lower balljoint came out of the knuckle and the CV shaft separated on the driver's side. I thought that it might have been possible that I somehow forgot to put the cotter pin in (unlikely but possible). Luckily this happened in a parking lot and my brother wasn't hurt and the car wasn't damaged too badly. Anyway, I had to get a new balljoint and CV shaft. This time around I made sure all the torque specs were correct and made SURE to double check the castle nuts and cotter pins. Well, it happened again (same side, driver's side). This time the outer part of the CV shaft separated from the stub shaft in the knuckle and the balljoint popped out of the knuckle again. In addition, the accident also tore the brake caliper hose in half. Again, it happened at low speed and nobody was hurt but this is unacceptable. This time there was remains of the cotter pin in the ball joint so I KNOW it was there at one point in time. What would cause this to be happening? I need to get this fixed before I can trust the car on the road again. Thank you for any help anyone can give me.
1997 Honda LX issue
- Thread starter Izeloz
- Start date
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Where did you get the parts from?
Is it possible you got a pass. side CV and installed it on the drivers side?
AFAIK the pass side is a little bit shorter then the drivers CV.
Where is the balljoint separating? Ball coming out of cup?
How long did it last the second time?
Do you have strange tire wear on the driver's side?
Is it possible you got a pass. side CV and installed it on the drivers side?
AFAIK the pass side is a little bit shorter then the drivers CV.
Where is the balljoint separating? Ball coming out of cup?
How long did it last the second time?
Do you have strange tire wear on the driver's side?
- Thread starter
- #3
Got the parts from AutoZone. Not fabulous parts, granted, but they should last a little longer and better than this. Not possible to mix up the CVs. The lengths are way too different. The ball joint stud actually came out of the knuckle. The balljoint in both cases was still entirely intact.
I don't understand......
So the cotter pin broke and the nut came off of the balljoint stud?
Do you have pics?
- Thread starter
- #5
The cotter pin broke and the ball joint nut is gone.
Definitely very strange, have never seen anything like it.
So are all the threads missing from that balljoint, or did it actually unscrew? I think it looks stripped, just can't tell from pic.
How long did the repair last?
At what speed did it fail?
So are all the threads missing from that balljoint, or did it actually unscrew? I think it looks stripped, just can't tell from pic.
How long did the repair last?
At what speed did it fail?
- Thread starter
- #7
The repair lasted about 100 miles. The threads are still intact on the ball joint stud, but the nut is gone. Not only that, but there are remains of the cotter pin still in the stud. The first failure happened pulling out of a parking spot. The second was at about 20 mph. I can't figure out how the nut could back off the stud with the cotter pin in place. It's almost like the nut turned with enough force to shear the cotter pin and then continued to loosen until it fell off. I can't figure out what could make that happen.
I think your going to need a new nut and balljoint, it is possible they gave you the wrong nut with the balljoint.
- Thread starter
- #9
That's the issue. I already did this and this problem has now happened twice. Second time around it was another new balljoint and another new CV. Odds of getting one wrong nut is miniscule but possible. The odds of two in a row having a nut that is somehow wrong is one in a million.
Time to buy a lottery ticket?
Have you checked the strut bolts on top of the shock tower and inspected the strut and coil spring for possible problems?
Don't know what else to tell you, except to inspect everything very closely, looking for worn/broken components.
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