I just spent a pile of money on Ingalls camber kits before I put on a new set of tires and am now told by my shop that the "vibration" I had been complaining about on acceleration was probably a CV joint. I did some searches and there seem to be some CV joint issues, but not a lot.

I have 117K Km (73K miles) on the car... and I don't think that it is reasonable to have CV joint issues at this low a mileage. Is it possible that the lowered suspension has been a factor? The previous owner drove it for 2 years lowered without a camber kit... the old tires were badly worn on the inside. Could my vibration problem it be anything else? It is usually on moderate - 2/3 acceleration... have never had it on WOT, and usually only in 1st gear (sometimes in 2nd).

 

It will wear things out faster. Not having a camber kit didn't helped. It could be CV joints.

 

Yes lowering the car can certainly affect the axles and cv joints. You're basically changing the geometry of the axles. Think about it, the axles sit pretty much parallel the ground with the stock setup. If you drop the car, you are dropping the drivetrain and body but the center of the wheel stays at the same point. So now the axle is not parallel to the ground and you are putting undue stress on the cv joint.

 

I just got the Tein Basic Kit put on my CL, do I need to get a Camber Kit right away? And do I need it or the front and the back beacuse I was told just the front in my car (03 CL-S) If so, what is best camber kit out there for my car and how much should I expect to spend?

Thanks
Andy

 

You need to do both... and Ingalls is the best. Best prices at www.iapdirect.com

 

my accord v6 needed cvs at a friggin 50k miles!!!! and i was the original owner

 

And camber kits will correct the alignment of the tires so you can adjust to get even tire wear but will do nothing for the geopmetry of the axles. Two separate issues from lowering the car.

 

Thanks Allout... this is a good distinction to make. So does that mean I can look forward to replacing CVs in another 50K miles? You know this lowering really pisses me off. If I had known about all the extra costs I would have switched back to standard springs as soon as I got the car. So far I have had to shell out for a camber kit that cost me a little over a grand (Can) installed, new struts... another grand, and now I have to replace either the CV joints or the axels.

Lowering looks good, but there are lots of hidden costs, and for the marginal improvement in handling, I am not convinced that it is worth it.

 

Did you replace the CVs or the axels? My shop is telling me that it is cheaper to replace the axels... does this make any sense?

 

i got the axels re done.

 

Cheaper and better in the long run to replace them with new axles.

 

Thanks for the advice on axels guys... and I am assuming that I should do both right? My shop tells me that there is play only in the right joint... my fear is that if I only do one the other one may be not far behind.

 

yea man just do both.

 

Thanks guys.

 

Might as well do both to get a consistent ride and trouble free future