SickStringC
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 302
- Location
- Austin, TX
So I started noticing a 'popping' sound from the front right immediately following a suspect alignment I got at a local shop back in early December immediately after cranking my T bars to 23". I intentionally didn't go any higher due to lots of reading about angles and wear on cv joints. I took it to a co-worker's father's mechanic shop to have a second look (it was pulling to the left a little, popping ... and the previous alignment knuckleheads had drained my battery and caused other headaches that they weren't up front about so I wasn't going back to them to let them fix whatever they did wrong). My co-worker's pops noticed my lower front differential mount was trashed (I had noticed this was an issue and had pointed it out on top of the suspect alignment so I was prepared for it). That was replaced around 12/23/12. 'Popping' seemed to go away. I still didn't trust the alignment so I took it to another alignment specialist around 1/5/13 - the camber adjustment bolt on the right front was completely loose. :whaa: I had been driving around for a month with my right front camber changing freely (I did end up returning to the original alignment shop and secured a full refund). We did a 4 wheel alignment, everything has been driving perfectly since and I didn't notice any more popping ... until about two days ago it started to come back. It's official - my right CV joint is on it's last leg. It's being replaced as I type - my mechanic found the part (oem) for $150 and is charging $300 labor. I can't afford to go too long without transportation or I'd look into doing this myself and spring for RCV Performance Products Hummer H3 Ultimate High Strength CV Joint, but from what i've read, it's not a fun or easy job. I'm getting a full 2 year warranty on parts and labor should it fail again (they know it goes off road and they still honor the warranty regardless of how it may fail again), but I'm thinking this is likely premature wear leading to failure due to the camber retaining bolt having been loose for a time. Theories? Ideas? I know cv joints can be sourced for as cheap as ~$125 shipped on ebay, but I feel like considering some folks are saying upwards of $450 for the cv joint from a dealership that I'm doing alright - the diagnosis was complete around 2pm today and they had a driver bring the part an hour later. I can't prove what led to the failure ... I was up at Hidden Falls less than two weeks ago and it never made a single noise or gave me any problems at all.
For any of you wondering how to tell if it's your cv joint making noise, for me - if I turned to the right (the side with the problem) and gave it a reasonable amount of gas from a stop (any normal right turn taken even slightly aggressively) I would hear it pop consistently with each rotation of the wheel with increasing frequency as I accelerated and it would cease the minute I backed off of the gas. It only makes noise under torque (which is logical).
In any event, I'll have my truck back tomorrow morning at the latest, repaired for under $500 and as soon as the right cv joint is replaced, they're going to scope the left for vibrations. It looks initially like the left is fine. I've been wheeling in my H3 for four years now and I've spent less $$ in repairs for this truck than any other vehicle I've owned for the same period and this is my first off-road vehicle. I honestly would have expected this stuff to be much more costly given the 'Hummer' = expensive to repair stigma.
For any of you wondering how to tell if it's your cv joint making noise, for me - if I turned to the right (the side with the problem) and gave it a reasonable amount of gas from a stop (any normal right turn taken even slightly aggressively) I would hear it pop consistently with each rotation of the wheel with increasing frequency as I accelerated and it would cease the minute I backed off of the gas. It only makes noise under torque (which is logical).
In any event, I'll have my truck back tomorrow morning at the latest, repaired for under $500 and as soon as the right cv joint is replaced, they're going to scope the left for vibrations. It looks initially like the left is fine. I've been wheeling in my H3 for four years now and I've spent less $$ in repairs for this truck than any other vehicle I've owned for the same period and this is my first off-road vehicle. I honestly would have expected this stuff to be much more costly given the 'Hummer' = expensive to repair stigma.
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