Replacing CV joints on 1997 Intrepid 3.5

Could anyone please give me the procedures for replacing the cv joints/shafts in a 1997 Dodge Intrepid 3.5. Is this a owner replacement procedure or does it require that a shop be contacted for the maintainance.

If you are mechanically inclined you may be able to do this yourself. Basically you need to remove the wheel. Then remove the lower ball joint thru bolt and axle nut. You'll need a big prybar or pipe to pry down on the lower control arm and pop the steering knuckle off of the lower ball joint. Then pull the knuckle/strut towards the rear of the car while turning it outwards. This allows the cv joint to come out of the knuckle. Then with a small prybar just pry the inner cv joint out of the transmission and remove the whole axle shaft.
One word of caution though. It might be beneficial to just remove the axle nut first and hit the outer cv joint with a rubber mallet to see if it has seized into the hub/bearing assembly. Sometimes they can pretty much become welded into it. If you can't budge it you can try some kind of penetrating fluid and let it soak for awhile. Otherwise it will require a new axle shaft, hub/bearing, and steering knuckle!!

hey how can you tell if you need a new cv joint? any indications or oddities in the everyday use of your car? reason i am asking is i have a 1997 intrep 3.5 with 92,000 and i have started to feel a knock and hear a knock when i am hitting bumps and at a select few other times any ideas as to what may cause these problems or test to determine what could be wrong?

Help I am rebuilding a 3.5 and got lost with some of the brackets on the Power stering. Can anyone help?

spongebobby924, it sounds like you have more than just bad CV joints. If it is making a knocking sound whenever you hit bumps, that sounds more like your strut dampers, rubber cushions that are placed in between the body and the strut, have worn out and whenever you hit a bump. More than likely you have something going wrong with your struts.

would that be expensive... to repair? how about just for the parts needed wat is the max and what would you expect to have to pay someone to repair it for you would you say? thanks much...

another thing it seems like whenever i am slowing down to a stop or coasting it seems like there is a rocking going on like the car rocks back and forth and the steering wheel shakes... any ideas lol... thanks?

Sponge - I had what sounds like the same problem. I had bad cradle bushings which made the whole engine rock when accelorating and stopping, finally wore out both cv's and a motor mount. The cradle is a sub frame the engine is mounted on. it has four locations which have bushings an upper and a lower. check them and while you are under there grab the cv axle and see if there is any play, should be tight.
good luck

Another source of "clunks" in the front end is the Sway Bar Links, they will rattle pretty good over bumps when the ball joints in the rods get loose. If they need to be replaced, get the greasable kind, they are a little more expensive but having them greased when you get the car serviced will aid in their longevity.

hey i just ended up taking my car to the shop real quick to have him diagnose what my problem would be and he told me that i have a front right engine cradle mount problem... where there is a gap inbetween it and wen i hit something the pieces of metal connect again and make that noise... i looked for the piece but i cant find a "front right engine cradle mount" any ideas ??

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