So I went to peninsula honda the other day for my state inspection and they tell me I have a driveshaft joint leaking. They quote me at $1300 for the repair. I was wondering if there was a way to get this done cheaper. I'm going to start looking for second hand parts but I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into. I do my own fluid changes and I've swapped out the exhaust and intake but I'm not sure what this job involves exactly. Any help would be appriciated.

 

If you have special tools you might could replace the boot that's leaking but you're likely a better candidate for replacement. Who knows if water has gotten in there and introduced rust, etc.

An entire assembly is < $450. You'll need a new wheel bearing (< $60) but otherwise you could probably do the work with the experience that you have. The hardest part will be separating the ball joint if you have never done that before. You'll need a special tool. You can purchase the Honda one or test your luck with a generic. (Mind the boots... they are fragile.) You can take the entire hub assembly some where and have the old bearing pressed out and the new one pressed in. This will be inconvenient but much less expensive than someone doing all of the work for you. If it's a higher mileage car consider replacing the hub while every thing is torn down, too. The splines wear in the driveshaft and the hub side eventually leading to noise when starting from a stop or changing direction, etc. Since you'll have a fresh axle a new hub will ensure everything is a good fit.

If you don't have the Helms manual, invest in it. You'll need torque specs and more direction than I can provide in a single forum post. It's invaluable..

Driveshaft (3 [RHS] or 4 [LHS])

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...EAR+DRIVESHAFT

Bearing (36) / Hub (2)

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...ry5=REAR+BRAKE

 

Oh, and the axle nuts are not intended to be reused. (20)

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...ry5=REAR+BRAKE

 

I'm wondering is it the transmission driveshaft or an axle?

Also, why would he need to replace the wheel bearing for an axle replacement?

If you get time, bring it to my shop, and let me put it on the lift and have a look at it.

 

My wheel bearing was bad so I had planned to replace it anyway, but IIRC, that sealed bearing gets destroyed during teardown, right?

You're right. I looked at the diagram again and thought about it. Wheel bearing shouldn't be necessary.

 

Correct. Not really "destroyed" in the sense that it couldn't be put back together, but once you pop it apart, you're not supposed to reuse it, since you've broken the seal between the inner races.

That said, I popped my new one open by accident last year while installing it, and 15k+ miles later, it's still fine. I won't be surprised if it does fail early in the next year or two though.

 

im i the only one scratching my head at this one? how can your driveshaft leak? and at a joint? either the dealer ship is just tryin to screw you or maybe you not sure or clear of what you really mean. can you find out if what you wrote is correct or did you miss type the wrong thing? the way you have it it sounds like there pulling a fast one on ya. if it was an axle seal or somthing i fel you would have worded it diffrently. idk lol please clarify

 

Because honda names their parts stupid. What normal ppl call axles they call drive shafts and what everyone calls a drive shaft they call prop shafts.

 

^ Yea, that.

 

RWD isn't their strong suit.

I guess we're lucky they didn't call the 'driveshaft' the 'spinny-thingy-you-just-have-one-of' and the 'axles' the 'spinny-things-you-have-two-of'.