SPONSORED LINKS

Possible bad CV axles

Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD TAURUS
  • 3.0L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 125,000 MILES
I recently noticed a clicking/clunk sound when turning my steering wheel left. It is very clear, and I am pretty sure it is the CV axles. However, I am looking online for the pair of these, and there is two different sets of them. One is for the AX4N automatic transmission, the other pair I am guessing is for the 4F50N automatic transmission. I believe I have the 4F50N transmission in my car, but the CV axle pair for that type of transmission does not look like the stock CV axles on my car. One of them seems to have a bushing on one end instead of just rubber boots on each end. I took screenshots of both CV axles pairs that I found on 1A Auto, and I also took video of both the axles on my vehicle. All images are posted below.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
SPONSORED LINKS
Wednesday, June 20th, 2018 AT 12:33 PM

36 Replies

Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
Video.
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
Video
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
Any guesses?
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
Correction; I just went under my car and cleaned the transmission pan, I have the AX4N metric.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good afternoon.

Are you looking to replace both axles? I see the pictures you sent and I am wondering what or where you see a problem?

Found these at rockauto.

Roy

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/ford,2002,taurus,3.0l+v6+ohv,1385771,drivetrain,cv+half+shaft+assembly,2288

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-cv-axle
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,440 POSTS
Clicking while turning is a good symptom of a bad outer CV joint. The AX4N and 4F50N are the same basic transmission, just a new name for the newer cars and the 4F50N has a couple extra sensors. The item you see on those is the ABS tone ring. You do not appear to have that on your car, as the sensors and tone rings are not in your videos.
I did not see the normal cracked boot or damage on the boots that causes the grease to escape and destroy the inner bearings but it may have been hidden.

This shows the process on a similar vehicle, you just do not have the intermediate bearings.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-cv-axle

Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
ASEMASTER, yes I am looking to replace both CV axles. I found a pair on Amazon with solid reviews for $80.00. I will be going with that. As far as seeing anything wrong with them, I cannot really notice much, but there is a clear clicking noise whenever I turn the steering wheel to the left so it has to be these.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Yep, that is a good indication of a failing CV joint. If one is failing the other will be close behind.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
Yup, so I will be replacing both and I have a new set of ball joints that I will be replacing as well, would not hurt.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
Here is the drivers side.
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
Here is the passengers side.
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:51 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Okay, it looks all new.

The next area is the cradle bolts and mount bushings. They are 18mm bolts. See if they are good and tight.

Roy
SPONSORED LINKS
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
.
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
The lower control arms and bolted to the cradle. Look around the cradle and you will find two bolts in the front and two in the rear.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
Is this the bolt? This is right under the control arm bushing.
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
No, that is a nut, not a bolt. It has an 18mm bolt head. They are at the four corners of the frame.

Roy
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
I’m back with a discovery! So I went ahead and starting pushing down on the car, next to each tire, bouncing it up and down with only my hands, there was no noise produced. So I went ahead and opened the front doors, put my feet onto the floor next to the drivers seat, and jumped up and down, no noise (surprisingly, due to the fact that the clunk noise produced when going over bumps and turning the steering wheel left, comes from the drivers side specifically). I did the same procedure on the front passengers side, and voila! Clunking clear as day, hear for yourself, what is this?
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
Here is me jumping from the outside: drivers side
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
Passengers side.
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:52 PM
Tiny
JGONZO2398
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
Here is a view right under the front passenger side suspension.
Video (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 AT 1:52 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related CV Axle Content

CV Axle Replacement
VIDEO
CV Axle Replacement
Instructional repair video
CV Axle Joint Symptoms
GUIDE
CV Axle Joint Symptoms
Front wheel drive and independent rear suspension cars are designed with CV axles. These axles allow the movement of suspension parts while delivering engine power to the ...
VIEW MORE

Sponsored links