CV Axle Replacement Cost

Generally speaking, the CV Axel replacement cost will be between $501 – $1686. If you are not mechanically minded and have to get it done by a mechanic it is probably worth replacing both of the axles on the side that is damaged and replacing the entire part as this saves you having further labor charges down the line when the other axle eventually wears out.

Side Mirror Replacement Cost Comparison

Below are a list of sample costs from the leading garage chains in the USA. Expect the price you pay to be different depending on where you live and what kind of car you drive.

Your Mechanic

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts & labor	12 months	$489 – $1498

Midas

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts & labor	12 months	$525 – $1685

Mr. Tire

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts & labor	12 months	$517 – $1441

Pep Boys

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts & labor	6 Months	$542 – $1895

Walmart

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts	Limited	$299 – $1245

Amazon

Work	Warranty	Price
Parts	Limited	$221 – $1200

What is a CV Axle?

A CV Axle (or constant velocity axle) is an important part of a front wheel drive car’s mechanics. It aids with forward momentum and suspension by allowing the drive shaft to change length when going over uneven terrain. Without this the cars drive shaft would be likely to become damaged.

It consists of four main parts, the shaft itself which is a cylinder-like tube, metal joints, and boots which are devices used to contain the fourth part, grease. The grease acts as a lubricant and is contained in the rubber boots without this grease the joint can be damaged leading to, among other things, a clanking sound when you drive.

Benefits of CV Axle Replacement

Over time, CV Axles (there are multiple Axles on a car – two on each side) can become worn. Commonly the outside boots are the first to get damaged as these receive more exposure to moisture, road debris etc.

Why should you get them replaced? The answer is very straightforward: because of the way the CV axle works, it connects the wheels to the transmission of your car, if it stops operating correctly the wheels just won’t turn and if the wheels don’t turn your car won’t move.

So as you can see they are pretty important parts. Even if only one part of the axle is damaged it is advisable (generally) to replace the whole part rather than trying to fix the individual components.

When Should You Have the CV Axle Replaced?

Every time you receive a service the mechanic should examine this part to check it is not damaged. Because of the importance of the part, if it is damaged it should be usually be replaced or repaired immediately if not it could cost you more in the future.

It is common for the part to begin to show signs of wear and tear after about fifty thousand miles although this won’t always be the case and will depend on the car and how you use it. A sign that your CV axle may be on its way out is a “clanging” sound coming from your wheels when you drive.

Other indications may be grease around the tires of your car or your car vibrating whilst you are driving.

What Is Done When An Axle Is Replaced?

You need to confirm that the axles do need replacing before they are replaced. it might be that you can just replace one of the boots saving yourself cost on parts.

1. Remove the wheel to provide access to the part
2. Replace the faulty axle with a new, working one. Or, if you are just replacing the boot, remove the axle and replace the boot
3. Replace the wheel
4. Check the tire pressure as this can be effected by the removal of the wheel
5. Finally, road test to make sure that everything is working correctly
6. In addition to this some garages will throw in a wheel alignment for you

How to Save Money on CV Axle Replacement

If you have pitting in the joint section you may be able to avoid a replacement by swapping the joints on the driver’s side with the opposite side. Effectively this means that the CV axle will be “spinning backwards” and the pitting won’t affect it.

This will buy you some time as you will effectively get double the use out of the part. This is not advisable if you are having a garage do it though as labor charges are potentially high.

As with most problems with cars prevention is better than a cure. Every time the wheel is taken off you should check the CV axle for damage. Sometimes if it is minor damage a change of the boot will suffice.

Another way to save money is to perform the labor yourself. It is a fairly time consuming job, which is why labor costs tend to be higher at auto shops. As it happens, the cost to replace the boot once labor is factored in is not that much cheaper than replacing the entire part. This may be a conversation that you have with your mechanic or if you are handy with cars it is a job that you may well undertake yourself saving yourself a good deal of money on labor costs.

Sample Costs for Replacing a CV Axle

We’ve compiled some costs for having the CV Axle replaced on a range of popular car models to help give you an idea of what you’ll pay for your car. There’s often a big difference in the cost of parts for this repair, depending if one or both axles will need to be replaced.

Model	Labor	Parts	Total
Ford F-Series	$220 – $281	$574 – $926	$794 – $1207
Chevrolet Silverado	$220 – $281	$356 – $702	$576 – $983
Ford Focus	$220 – $281	$356 – $702	$576 – $983
Toyota Camry	$394 – $502	$328 – $1184	$722 – $1686
Toyota Corolla	$252 – $321	$328 – $1150	$580 – $1471
Nissan Altima	$213 – $271	$328 – $1234	$541 – $1505
Honda CR-V	$173 – $221	$328 – $1170	$501 – $1391
Honda Civic	$189 – $241	$328 – $1156	$517 – $1397
Honda Accord	$189 – $241	$328 – $1156	$517 – $1397
Ford Fusion	$220 – $281	$574 – $926	$794 – $1207