What would happen if the wrong CV axles were installed

KYLEA SCOTT

MEMBER
1998 HONDA CRV
4 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
107,000 MILES

I took my car into Pep-boys because of a slight clicking sound when turning. They told me they needed to replace the CV axles, then when I called to see if it was ready they said that they had installed the wrong axles and they have to order new parts and it would be another couple days. Then 2 days later they called and told me the car had transmission issues that it defiantly did not have before. The engine ran fine, the car only has 100,000 miles on it! Now they have denied any wrong doing and tell me that it would be 'physically impossible' to install the wrong CV axles but so far all of my research show that to be false. So my question is, is it possible to install incorrect CV axles? If so, could this cause transmission damage?

3 Replies

BMDOUBLE

MECHANIC
1,139 POSTS

The only correlation that CV axles and the transmission have in common is where they meet, where the axles slide in to the transmission through seals. If the wrong axles are installed it would be possible that these seals are damaged or don't seal properly due to size difference of the axle shaft sealing surface in particular. If it did not seal correctly, transmission fluid can leak out and then you have a transmission running low on fluid which can cause catastrophic failure. This is just a possibility and I was not there to see this so I cannot guarantee that this is what happened, just telling you what I've seen happen before. I would ask them what the difference was and was.

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Friday, August 16th, 2019 AT 12:07 PM

KYLEA SCOTT

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thank you for the reply. Just to confirm you are saying that it is physically possible to install the wrong CV axles on a car?

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Friday, August 16th, 2019 AT 12:11 PM

BMDOUBLE

MECHANIC
1,139 POSTS

I personally have not done it, but I'm sure it's possible. I have gotten the wrong parts from my parts counter, but I compare the old to the new and can tell right away! Like I said I can't guarantee that's what happened, but if the shop was honest they would tell you exactly what the difference was with the axles. From what you are saying, they initially said that they installed the wrong axles but then they are saying that it's physically impossible? It doesn't make sense!

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Friday, August 16th, 2019 AT 1:58 PM