Sorry guys this is not a TSX question but I purchesed a 1998 Civic about four months ago and come to find out it needs both halfshafts. I took it to a shop and they told me $1000 parts and labor to replace both. I went to a local parts store and parts are only about $160. Is replacing the halfshafts that difficult or is this something I could do on my own.

 

Its not too difficult, just need to chock the rear wheels and get jack stands underneath the front. Much easier on a lift, would take you 3-4 hours per axle if you never done it before. Haven't done it on a 98 Civic before but that's pretty standard for a FWD axle I think.

You'll probably need a ball joint puller to get the actual half shaft separated. Honestly I recommend either having a person who's done it several times before help you out or take it to the shop (decent price assuming $100-120/hr labor) because you don't want to risk tearing the boot or else you will need to get a new one and install that too. You'll also get really dirty, and may need to repack the axle with grease.

 

I don't know when the cut off years is, I think your in the clear, but one side of Civic's sometimes has the alternator in the way and that needs to come out in order to get the CV shaft out and back in.

Its not an easy job if you never did them before, but with the help of someone who has they are a piece of cake. When I worked in a shop they were my forte, all front end work sort of was, and on some vehicles I could have a CV shaft done in 15 minutes, from the time the vehicle was pulled in, to when we were backing it out. Book time on the simplest is an hour and goes up from there. Sadly, I don't remember what we charged, I want to say it was around $219 installed, but I could be off a bit. I would shop around, go to a few different places and get another estimate, $1000 is WAY too high, seeing as most rebuilt shafts wholesale price is between $60-70, granted you need two of them, but its not that big of a project.

 

i can see 250-300 but not $1000

 

I'd say about 500 parts/labor/taxes incl.

 

Find a new shop. That's way too expensive.

 

Thanks Ill probably shop around for a better price I also know a couple of people who used to work at shops I might try to do it on my own it never hurts to know something new