Hello, I'm relativity new to actually working on cars so feel free to help as much as you can. I'm a senior in highschool who wanted to start working on cars and fixing them. My car an 2004 TL makes a popping sound when a make a sharp left turn. I did some research and found out I need to replace the CV axle. Is this job possible for me to do as a first timer with video tutorials to help. It didn't look too complicated just unbolt things and move them out of the way. I know looks can be deceiving though. If at all possible I need to do it myself, because I don't have the extra money to have someone else do it.

 

Make sure it is your axle and not some other random part! Do you have tools like a floor jack, jack stands, wrenches, etc? If not, you will have to spend the money for those! Harbor Freight has some good tools at cheap prices. You will have to drain your auto trans fluid and put new fluid in. Also recommend a new axle seal!

 

I do have all of the tools needed. However I dont really know how to check to makes sure it is the axle. Do you have any tips to make sure?

 

There's a lot of videos how bad axle sounds like.
Basically, when turning and accelerating, you hear constant popping sound. If it happens only once it's most likely not axle.

About the change - you don't need to drain the ATF. Most likely nothing will leak out. If you are careful seal will survive. Driving seals in can be tricky.

Axles have small c-clip things on the end. That is the thing that retains it in transmisson. I like to cover the clip and surface that seals with transmission assembly grease. It keeps the clip in the center making it easier to drive into the trans.

The hardest part about any car job is what to do if something doesn't want to come apart. For example getting axle nut off is easy, but what if axle doesn't want to slide out of knuckle?

Search youtube. For example:

 

Yes it sounds exactly like that video. How do I know if it is the driver side or passenger side? Is it just by where I hear the sound?

 

You might as well replace both of them if you're going to do this job. It is definitely do-able for an amateur. Just make sure you have the right tools going into it, it'll save you multiple trips to autozone or the hardware store during the job like I had to do.

I made a DIY guide for this job here https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...5at-tl-980266/

 

Ah ok ill just do both then. That tutorial will come in handy. I've just been watching a whole bunch of videos of how to do it and trying to figure it out but this will be much better thank you.