Struts on 91 Accord, and right axle?

The guy says that it needs 4 new struts and a right axle. He is
correct. One front strut is leaking. I don't really care since I don't
drive it too much. Maybe 5,000 miles per year. The struts are probably
original

I don't think I'm going to bother with the struts. That's a lot of
money and if the body was in better shape I might, but there is a fair
amount of rust and it isn't getting any better. Mostly what I read
says that weak struts cause slightly longer braking time and less
precise handling. I'm not overly worried about a big crash or I'd
finally get a car with air bags.

It doesn't bounce much on the road, and only bounces once or twice
when pushed down.

I think I need to do the axle though; it's been clicking a bit
sometimes on left turns for two years.

 

do you have a question?

and 91 accords are wishbone suspension, not strut. what you're talking
about are the shocks, or "damper units". just to be pedantic.

 

Right, two questions then. Is it ok to ignore the need for new struts?
And, will the axle collapse while I'm driving if I don't do anything
about it?

My (limited) understanding is that shocks are fairly cheap to replace,
but struts are a big deal and require suspension work and an
alignment. And I really do not want the axle to fall off the car while
I'm driving.

 

if they need to be replaced, replace them. otherwise, don't! take a
pic of the one that's supposed to be leaking and post it on tinypic.com
if you want an opinion.

pedantically, the 91 accord doesn't have axles - it's independent
suspension front and rear. all a failing driveshaft will do is annoy
you and make the car vibrate.

shocks on a honda are non-trivial to replace because there are coil
springs over them. you need a special tool to safely disassemble and
replace. however, you don't need to re-align because the wishbones set
geometry and the shocks are independent of that. again, be sure you
need to replace them.

 

Regardless of what you call them, axles, cv shafts, propellor shafts etc.,
the clicking noise is coming from the cv joint. The axle will stop turning
the wheel when the cv joint fails. I guess it could fall out if the joint
came completely apart and separated into two parts. Possible but highly
unlikely.

DaveD

 

Is a junkyard part worth doing or is the labor most of the cost?

 

Negative. Junkyard parts in this case are simply not worth it. Check with
your local dealer and the local parts stores, such as NAPA, AutoZone, etc.,
check the price and the guarantee. NAPA was offering lifetime warranty on
the cv boots. Don't know if that still applies. Cost is about 50-50 parts
and labor. Figure around 75-100(USD) for each a total of 150-200...

DaveD

 

Hmm. Lifetime warranty on a 91 Accord? Oh well, it still needs to be
done.

 

not /your/ lifetime, the "lifetime" of the axle. it doesn't mean much
because legally, it's warranteed until it breaks. think about that!

 

So let me get this all straight. I need to replace the axle because
the CV joint will fail and the wheel will stop turning? That really
does seem like something to be avoided.

The lifetime warranty, at least until the axle breaks, is definitely
rewarding.

 

that's only the extreme final worst outcome. the noise and vibration
will become intolerable long before that happens.

if the drive shaft is already making noise, it needs replacing. oem are
the best, longest lasting, etc. and you can replace just the cv joint.
but aftermarket are cheap and plentiful. and to swap the whole shaft
takes about 20 minutes if you have the right tools.

 

Check to see what the "lifetime" warranty describes. I think a failure
of the boot (tear) would be considered under the lifetime of the
workmanship and thus be allowed for an exchange.

 

Try this: The liftime of the part, as long as the owner of record owns the
car.

 

What's the lifetime of the part? Until it fails?

 

Well, yeah. But with a LLT guarantee, the person offering the guarantee
as long as the original purchaser/end user of the part is still the owner
of record of the car.

You buy a new axle/CV joint, and have it installed (or do it yourself).
After 60,000 miles the part fails, you go back to where you purchased the
part with the receipt (you save receipts, right?) and the broken part.
They give you a new one, or, if you haven't removed the part yet you pay
for it and they reimburse you when you bring the failed one back.

You buy a new axle/CV joint, and install it on the car. 30,000 miles
later you sell the car. The part fails at 35,000 miles. The new owner
goes back with the part and the receipt...oh, too bad!!!

 

Fair enough. Have you noticed that current receipts often fade after a
few months? I scan the important ones but if they ask for the original
copy that can be tough.