Countrycurt0 hit the nail on the head with his answer . but the boot doesnt always have to be torn or leaking for the joint to be bad. i would replace the halfshaft then you get the inner and outter cvjoint and easy to replace. good luck
What year and how many miles on the Kia? I suspect your axle boot is torn. This is a rubber boot that goes around the axle to protect it from dirt, water, and crud it would be exposed to when driving. As the car ages, the rubber will crack and split, allowing road debris to enter the axle assembly. When this happens it isn't long before the axle must be replaced. If you can look under the car at the center of the front wheel, check the boot for damage, splits, cracks, etc. You may see a lot of grease in that area, another sign the rubber boot has been torn, and axle grease is leaking out and being spread around. Have it checked soon, as the other side is either about to go, of already is beginning to. I just replaced the axles in my 92 Honda w/ rebuilt axles for only $50 each, but there is a lot of labor involved in changing them, so it isn't a cheap fix. Let me know what you find in your inspection, but it does sound like a bad axle due to a torn boot. coountrycurt0
Answers & Comments
Countrycurt0 hit the nail on the head with his answer . but the boot doesnt always have to be torn or leaking for the joint to be bad.
i would replace the halfshaft then you get the inner and outter cvjoint and easy to replace.
good luck
What year and how many miles on the Kia? I suspect your axle boot is torn. This is a rubber boot that goes around the axle to protect it from dirt, water, and crud it would be exposed to when driving. As the car ages, the rubber will crack and split, allowing road debris to enter the axle assembly. When this happens it isn't long before the axle must be replaced. If you can look under the car at the center of the front wheel, check the boot for damage, splits, cracks, etc. You may see a lot of grease in that area, another sign the rubber boot has been torn, and axle grease is leaking out and being spread around. Have it checked soon, as the other side is either about to go, of already is beginning to. I just replaced the axles in my 92 Honda w/ rebuilt axles for only $50 each, but there is a lot of labor involved in changing them, so it isn't a cheap fix. Let me know what you find in your inspection, but it does sound like a bad axle due to a torn boot. coountrycurt0