2018 Toyota Highlander
Vibration while accelerating for last 8 months, all started after replacement of OE CV axles due to torn boots and a clicking sound at low speeds while turning. Figured instead of rebooting and regreasing the units I'd just request new units. New would be better than a "bandaid" fix of rebooting and regreasing already clicking and therefore damaged OE CV axles, right?
Nope. Shop put on GSP axles. Shop didn't really consult me on which axles I wanted, aftermarket or OE. I think the shop just made a judgment call. Unfortunately, it wasn't a great judgement call.
First set of axles were defective out the box, well, at least one of them was. Replaced almost immediately--unsure which side but they definitely replaced one or both. Second set was also defective/vibrating, just at different speeds, but shop refused to blame axles and proceeded to blame everything from the torque converter to bent steel rims. Finally got the shop to put in OEM axles ... vibrations instantly disappeared. It wasn't the TC, it wasn't bent rims, it was the **** GSP axles. I had the car put up on a lift at another shop and we found both:
1) lateral runout at the driver side GSP-brand CV axle to transmission connection. You could grab the axle near the tranmission and wiggle it in/out the transmission.
2) radial runout at the driver side GSP-brand CV axle near the transmission as well -- visible wobble as the axle was manually spun
The original shop that finally put on OEM axles did claim that the lateral runout at the axle-to-transmission connection was normal ... said something about there needing to be "flex" in that area to accommodate going over speed bumps and stuff. Is this right?
Anyway, just wanted to chime in and say that:
1) GSP axles are trash
2) OEM axles solved all vibration issues at all speeds from 0 to 120 MPH, not even a hint of a shudder from the car while accelerating now.
And I wanted to ask:
1) Radial runout at the axle-to-transmission joint does NOT seem normal. Shouldn't all the "flex" be within the boot ... and not at the splined connections?
Vibration while accelerating for last 8 months, all started after replacement of OE CV axles due to torn boots and a clicking sound at low speeds while turning. Figured instead of rebooting and regreasing the units I'd just request new units. New would be better than a "bandaid" fix of rebooting and regreasing already clicking and therefore damaged OE CV axles, right?
Nope. Shop put on GSP axles. Shop didn't really consult me on which axles I wanted, aftermarket or OE. I think the shop just made a judgment call. Unfortunately, it wasn't a great judgement call.
First set of axles were defective out the box, well, at least one of them was. Replaced almost immediately--unsure which side but they definitely replaced one or both. Second set was also defective/vibrating, just at different speeds, but shop refused to blame axles and proceeded to blame everything from the torque converter to bent steel rims. Finally got the shop to put in OEM axles ... vibrations instantly disappeared. It wasn't the TC, it wasn't bent rims, it was the **** GSP axles. I had the car put up on a lift at another shop and we found both:
1) lateral runout at the driver side GSP-brand CV axle to transmission connection. You could grab the axle near the tranmission and wiggle it in/out the transmission.
2) radial runout at the driver side GSP-brand CV axle near the transmission as well -- visible wobble as the axle was manually spun
The original shop that finally put on OEM axles did claim that the lateral runout at the axle-to-transmission connection was normal ... said something about there needing to be "flex" in that area to accommodate going over speed bumps and stuff. Is this right?
Anyway, just wanted to chime in and say that:
1) GSP axles are trash
2) OEM axles solved all vibration issues at all speeds from 0 to 120 MPH, not even a hint of a shudder from the car while accelerating now.
And I wanted to ask:
1) Radial runout at the axle-to-transmission joint does NOT seem normal. Shouldn't all the "flex" be within the boot ... and not at the splined connections?