Single Loud Pop after Installing CV Axle

[BrandonVA]

I installed a driver's side cv axle this past weekend on my ford escape. Everything seemed fine. there was no play or anything in the axle and it drove great after test driving it. On my way home from work today I took a very hard right hand turn on a downward off camber slope and heard a loud pop from the area where I installed the axle. I stopped and expected the axle to have popped out for some reason and to be leaking fluid but everything seemed fine.

I drove home and inspected it again and everything seems perfect. What the heck was that single "POP" noise? It is very disconcerning. What could I have done wrong?

 

[Rand]

what kind of axle was it? reman? oem?

its very common for regular reman axles to not last long due to the refurbing process removing the hardening.

 

[The_Eric]

Are you sure you seated the snap ring on the stub shaft into the transmission? It could have conceivably made a similar noise on a tight inside turn.

 

[BrandonVA]

it's a new aftermarket axle...empi. seems very high quality. I'm thinking it was the snap ring snapping into place. I just went out driving again and took some right hand turns as hard as possible (without understeering) and I could not replicate the pop.

 

[NHGUY]

I had a new EMPI axle,it was too short and caused a wobble on corners.

 

[threeputtpar]

Is the ABS tone ring still on the axle, or do you now have any issues with ABS? They are known to come off of the axle as they are just pressed on, but that usually happens after a few years of rust loosens them up.

 

[artificialist]

I have dealt with reman CV axles with a defective snap ring, but not a new one. That doesn't mean it can't happen. The snap ring I am talking about is the one that goes inside the transaxle or transfer case.

I once repaired a 1990s Honda Accord with cheap rebuilds, and both popped out just 50 feet outside the repair shop. We ordered 2 brand new ones and didn't have that problem.