What Causes Transmission Problems After CV Joint Replacement

Last updated on July 31st, 2023 at 09:06 pm

One advantage of transmissions in a vehicle is that they are touted for their compact designs, and added traction and improved fuel economy.

Due to these reasons, a lot of new cars are built with these systems. Although they do offer certain benefits because problems can develop over time especially with front-wheel-drive vehicles.

Sometimes these issues may not become apparent until the vehicle needs repairs. How Serious Is a Transmission leak?

Bad CV Axle Vibration

Indeed, a damaged CV joint has the potential to produce suspension vibration in your car, and this needs to be replaced.

Note that a sign that your vibration might be caused by a faulty CV joint is once you begin to hear a clicking or clunking noise whenever you’re turning.

Whenever they do wear out, the vehicle’s CV axles will produce a few signs that can alert the driver that they need attention. Below are the signs:

#1. You will experience loud clicking noises when turning

Indeed, one of the most known and most noticeable signs of a bad or failing CV axle shaft assembly is a clicking noise that will be very audible when turning.

Note that whenever the CV axles become excessively worn, your vehicle’s joints will become loose and stiff when turning.

Most times, the clicks may become louder or more noticed during sharper and faster turns, which will be heard on the side with the faulty CV shaft.

#2. You will notice grease on edge of tire

One other symptom of a CV axle shafts that have issues is seeing grease on the inside edge of the tire or along the underside of the vehicle.

Note that this is normally caused by a torn boot leaking grease because it is tossed around while the axle turns.

Also note that a leaky boot will definitely lead to CV joint failure, due to dirt and debris getting into the boot and damages the joint.

#3. You will notice excessive vibration while driving

One other signs of a bad CV axle is having an excessive vibrations from the axle while driving.

Once a CV joint or axle shaft is damaged in a way that will affect its balance while it rotates, it will lead the shaft to vibrate excessively while you operate the vehicle.

Sometimes the vibrations may oscillate, or become very noticeable as the vehicle’s speed increases.

An excessive vibration from a faulty CV shafts can interfere sometimes with handling and ride characteristics, and can also affect the overall safety and comfort of the vehicle.

Normally, the CV axle will need to be changed if it is damaged enough to cause vehicle vibrations.

Remember that the CV axles is what serve as the final link between your car engine and the wheels.

It serves the essential function of transferring the torque from the drivetrain to your vehicle’s wheels so that it can be able to move the vehicle.

And because of this, once you suspect that one or more of the vehicle’s CV axle shafts might be having issue, you should take a closer look at it.

What Causes, Transmission Problems after CV Joint Replacement

A vehicle’s transmission is sometimes known as the brain of the vehicle. They help in transferring your engine’s power to the wheels and also regulates the engine speed.

The transmissions has an important job and definitely is worth looking out for.

Note that a transmission is fluid driven, which means that the transmission fluid is very necessary to keep your car on the road.

A grinding gear, a delayed response from the transmission and other shifting issues will mostly be caused by a fluid related problem. Below are some of the problem:

#1. A Leaking Transmission Fluid

One of the easiest way to notice transmission problems is to look for signs of a physical leak of fluid. Remember that the fluid is usually red in color.

Leakage are normally found near the drain plug or the seal between the transmission and the engine.

Note that transmission fluid is essential for the operation of your car or truck.

You should always remember that it is vital to fix the leak before any permanent damage is done.

#2. A Low Transmission Fluid Level And Quality

Indeed, a leaking fluid can lead to a low fluid levels in a vehicle. So you should always ensure the fluid is still in decent condition that is enough to perform its duty.

Remember that as the fluid flows through the transmission, it will help lubricates and cools the components.

Once there’s no enough fluid or the fluid starts to degrade, there will be poor performance of the transmission.

If this continue to an extent, the transmission will stop working altogether.

#3. A Clogged Transmission Fluid Filter

A lot of people don’t understand that there’s a filter for the transmission fluid. What this filter does is to help keep the fluid clean and of high quality.

Once the filter becomes clogged, it won’t allow the right amount of fluid to pass through.

Always remember that the lack of lubricating and cooling transmission fluid will lead the transmission to grind to a halt, or will cause overheat.

And neither of these negative outcomes is good for your vehicle, because both will result in a hefty repair bill.

Causes Of Vibration After CV Axle Replacement

The constant velocity axles, mostly called CV are a drivetrain component that are commonly found on many modern road going vehicles.

The CV serves the purpose of transferring power from your vehicle’s transmission and sends to the wheels to drive the vehicle forward.

The CV has a greased flexible joint which allows the axle to flex according to the road conditions, and with minimal effect on power delivery.

The causes of Vibration after CV axle replacement can be found below:

An out of balance wheels or tires
An out of round wheels or an excessive radial force variation tire (the hard spot in tire)
A worn CV joints
A tight or binding CV joints

The only solution here is total replacement, this is according to the FSM.

Can A Bad CV Axle Mess Up Your Transmission

The answer is yes, a bad axle can mess up your transmission and make it to go bad.

It can lead to transmission leaks because of the damaged seal once you grab the axle closest to the inner joint which is near the transmission.

Remember that you can move it up and down which is a sign that the differential in the transmission is worn out.

So in case you always ask, can a bad CV axle damage transmission? Then know that it can.

Can A Bad CV Joint Cause Vibration When Braking?

Indeed, having minor accidents, hitting large potholes, or even going too fast over speed bumps has the potential of causing damage to your vehicle’s CV joint.

Most times, it won’t show immediately that anything is wrong, and you may think there wasn’t any damage in your car.

However, a little impact or even a relatively minor one can bend or even damage the CV joint, which is a serious issue.

Note that a damaged CV joint can cause suspension vibration, most times a fairly severe shaking especially when braking.

The vibration will normally get worse as your reach high speeds, and it’s essential for you to address bad CV joint issues as soon as possible.

Also know that a worn CV (constant velocity) joints can cause vibration. This is because CV joints are located at the ends of the drive axles, and is sheathed in a rubber boot.

The Axle Boot serves two functions in the vehicle. They help to keep out grime, dirt and any other debris, and secondly, they serve to keep the axle grease in.

As time goes by, the CV boots get torn or broken open. Whenever this happens, the CV joint will be damaged over time because of the loss of lubricating grease and because of the entry of dirt and debris.

A damaged CV joints has the ability to produce suspension vibration in your car and will need to be changed.

The truth is that, if you drive for too long with faulty CV joints, then you may need to change your drive axles too, and this will cost you significantly more.

Note that a good sign that your vibration may be caused by a bad CV joint is if you notice a vibration or hear a clicking noise when turning.

The Solution:

Both the bent axles, the worn-out CV joints, and the damaged driveshaft should be changed as soon as possible.

Note that this is the only solution to solve the car’s vibrating problem when turning.

Jeffery Ekweghi

Hi dear, my name is Jeffery Ekweghi, and I am a certified mechanic and autobody parts technician. I created this site to share my expertise and experience with car lovers looking to resolve their car-related issues. I am certified in private cars and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. I have worked as a mechanic since 2015 and have experience in vehicle brands like Subaru, Jeep, Toyota, TATA, BMW, Mazda, Honda, Nissan, Kia, TVs, and Others; however, I primarily specialize in Toyota vehicles.