Just purchased a 1996 Cavalier and after a week.

Tiny
KATHYMOREHEADNEWBURN
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 130,000 MILES
Just purchased a 1996 Cavalier and after a week the axle broke, so replaced it by son in law. He is not a certified mechanic. Now the axle is twisted again and eventually it will break. Why does it keep doing this? The kid said he wasn't beating the car but he remembers hitting a few potholes. Could that do this? Anyway the dad that fixed it the first time said the kid was beating the car and he will not fix it again. HELP. What could be causing this?
Saturday, April 6th, 2013 AT 11:44 PM

12 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Did you get a new or used axle?

Roy
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Saturday, April 6th, 2013 AT 11:47 PM
Tiny
KATHYNEWBURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I do believe the part came from a bottle parts store so I would say new
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 12:34 AM
Tiny
KATHYNEWBURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Sorry auto parts store
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 12:35 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Twisted? Please explain. Can you post a picture?

Roy
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 12:36 AM
Tiny
KATHYNEWBURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
All the grease is hanging down. They said its twisted. Maybe I can post a picture.
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 12:38 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,796 POSTS
Sounds like a ripped boot. Doubt if it twisted.

Roy
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 12:39 AM
Tiny
KATHYNEWBURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
How do I add a picture?
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 12:47 AM
Tiny
KATHYNEWBURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Here is the picture.
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 12:58 AM
Tiny
KATHYNEWBURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Can you tell by the picture?
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 2:22 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Wow, it looks like the CV joint is coming apart. Is this the same thing that happened to the first one? If so. Some one must be dumping the clutch if it is a manual transmission or reving the engine in neutral and then slamming it into gear if it is an automatic. Hitting pot holes wouldn't cause that. Sorry, Roy, It showed this wasn't answered then I saw the pic.
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 3:13 AM
Tiny
KATHYNEWBURN
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Its an automatic. So probably need a cv joint, axle rubber boot is that about it?
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 3:20 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
That is what it looks like it needs. However, it is cheaper to just get a reman axle with both CV joints already replaced. By the time you pay labor and screw around removing the old CV joint, you will have more money into it than if you just purchased the entire axle.

Let us know if you have other questions.
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Sunday, April 7th, 2013 AT 3:27 AM

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