drivetrain

CV Axles - Front Pair

for 2021 Honda Accord 1.5L I4 Turbo · FWD

Editorial review:Chris Hackleman — Master Technician · 20+ years · Jeff Moore — Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years

Difficulty

Moderate

Time

1.8 h

Tools

Steps

✓Expert-verified. Personally reviewed and approved by OLP's master technicians (Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — 20+ years each). Always follow the vehicle's factory service information and torque specs.

This procedure covers the removal and installation of both front CV axles on a 2018-2024 Honda Accord with 1.5L turbo engine, including proper torque specifications and fluid handling.

Warnings

⚠️Vehicle must be securely supported on jack stands. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack.

⚠The axle nut is staked into a groove on the axle shaft. It must be replaced with a new nut and re-staked after installation.

⚠Transmission fluid will drain when removing axles. Have a drain pan ready and plan to refill afterward.

⚠Do not drop or strike CV joints as this can damage internal components. Support axles during removal.

ℹ️Mark or photograph the orientation of axles before removal to aid in correct installation.

Tools required

19mm and 22mm socketEssential

32mm axle nut socketEssential

Torque wrench (140-250 Nm range)Essential

Breaker barEssential

Ball joint separator or pickle forkEssential

Pry barEssential

Drain panEssential

Jack and jack standsEssential

Wheel chocksEssential

Hammer (dead blow or rubber mallet)

Punch or chisel for staked axle nutEssential

Wire brush

Parts

Front left CV axle assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification or quality aftermarket
Front right CV axle assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification or quality aftermarket
Axle nut (staked type) × 2 — 90305-SDA-A01 or equivalent
Transmission fluid drain plug washer × 1 — 94109-24000 or equivalent

Fluids

Honda DW-1 ATF — 2 qt

Preparation

Park vehicle on level surface and apply parking brake
Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels
Loosen (but do not remove) front wheel lug nuts while vehicle is on ground
With vehicle on ground and brakes applied, use chisel or punch to un-stake axle nuts on both sides
With vehicle on ground and brakes applied, break loose both front axle nuts using 32mm socket and breaker bar
Raise front of vehicle and support securely on jack stands at proper lift points
Remove front wheels completely
Place drain pan under transmission to catch fluid during axle removal

Procedure

1
Remove driver side axle nut
With vehicle raised and wheel removed, completely remove the 32mm axle nut from the driver side axle shaft. The nut should already be loosened from preparation. Set aside as this nut must be replaced with a new one.
2
Disconnect driver side lower ball joint
Remove the cotter pin or castle nut securing the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle. Remove the ball joint nut using a 19mm socket. Use a ball joint separator or pickle fork to separate the lower control arm ball joint from the knuckle. Do not damage the ball joint boot.
Torque spec
Ball Joint Nut97 Nm (71 lb-ft)
3
Remove driver side axle from hub
Push the axle shaft out of the wheel hub/bearing assembly. If the axle is stuck, tap the end gently with a rubber mallet or dead blow hammer. Support the knuckle and brake assembly to prevent stress on the brake hose. Pull the knuckle assembly outward to fully clear the axle splines from the hub.
4
Remove driver side axle from transmission
Insert a pry bar between the inner CV joint and transmission case. Pry firmly to disengage the axle from the transmission differential. Transmission fluid will drain out. Pull the entire axle assembly out, supporting it to avoid damaging the CV boots. Inspect the differential seal for damage.
⚠Pry only against the inner CV joint housing, not the axle shaft itself. Do not damage the transmission seal.
5
Remove passenger side axle nut
Completely remove the 32mm axle nut from the passenger side axle shaft. This nut should already be loosened from preparation. Discard this nut as it must be replaced.
6
Disconnect passenger side lower ball joint
Remove the cotter pin or castle nut securing the passenger side lower ball joint to the steering knuckle. Remove the ball joint nut using a 19mm socket. Use a ball joint separator to separate the lower control arm ball joint from the knuckle.
Torque spec
Ball Joint Nut97 Nm (71 lb-ft)
7
Remove passenger side axle from hub
Push the axle shaft out of the wheel hub/bearing assembly. If stuck, tap gently with a rubber mallet. Support the knuckle and brake assembly. Pull the knuckle assembly outward to fully clear the axle splines from the hub.
8
Remove passenger side axle from transmission
Use a pry bar between the inner CV joint and transmission case to disengage the axle from the differential. Additional transmission fluid will drain. Remove the entire axle assembly. Inspect both axles and differential seals for wear or damage.
9
Install driver side axle to transmission
Clean the differential seal area and axle splines. Apply a small amount of Honda DW-1 ATF to the new axle splines and inner CV joint. Carefully align and push the driver side axle straight into the transmission until you feel and hear the circlip snap into place. Pull firmly on the inner joint to verify it is fully seated.
⚠Ensure the axle circlip fully engages. A partially seated axle can disengage during operation.
10
Install driver side axle to hub and reconnect ball joint
Guide the outer axle splines into the hub/bearing assembly. You may need to rotate the axle slightly to align splines. Push the knuckle assembly back into position. Reconnect the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle and install a new ball joint nut. Torque the ball joint nut to specification and install a new cotter pin.
Torque spec
Ball Joint Nut97 Nm (71 lb-ft)
11
Install driver side axle nut
Install a new 32mm axle nut onto the driver side axle shaft. Do not fully torque yet. Thread the nut on by hand first to ensure proper thread engagement.
12
Install passenger side axle to transmission
Clean the differential seal area and apply ATF to the new axle splines and inner CV joint. Align and push the passenger side axle straight into the transmission until the circlip snaps into place. Pull firmly on the inner joint to verify full engagement.
13
Install passenger side axle to hub and reconnect ball joint
Guide the outer axle splines into the hub/bearing assembly, rotating as needed to align. Push the knuckle back into position. Reconnect the lower ball joint to the steering knuckle, install a new ball joint nut, torque to specification, and install a new cotter pin.
Torque spec
Ball Joint Nut97 Nm (71 lb-ft)
14
Install passenger side axle nut
Install a new 32mm axle nut onto the passenger side axle shaft. Thread on by hand first. Do not fully torque yet.
15
Torque axle nuts and stake
Install wheels loosely. Lower vehicle until tires just touch the ground to prevent hub rotation. Apply parking brake or have assistant hold brake pedal. Torque both front axle nuts to specification using a torque wrench. After torquing, use a punch and hammer to stake the axle nut into the groove on the axle shaft. The staking should create a small indent that locks the nut in place.
⚠Axle nuts must be torqued with the wheel on the ground and brakes applied to prevent hub rotation. Stake the nut securely to prevent loosening.
Torque spec
Axle Nut250 Nm (184 lb-ft)
16
Install wheels and refill transmission fluid
Raise vehicle fully and remove jack stands. Install wheels and torque lug nuts to specification in a star pattern. Lower vehicle completely. Refill transmission with Honda DW-1 ATF through the dipstick tube or fill plug. Add approximately 2 quarts initially, then check level and add as needed to bring to proper level. Start engine and shift through all gears, then recheck fluid level.
Torque spec
Wheel Lug Nuts140 Nm (103 lb-ft)

Reassembly

Ensure all ball joint nuts are properly torqued and new cotter pins are installed
Verify axle nuts are torqued to specification and properly staked
Check transmission fluid level is correct after running engine and cycling through gears
Verify no transmission fluid leaks around axle seals

Verification

Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no clicking, popping, or vibration from CV axles
Check for smooth operation during turns in both directions
Verify no transmission fluid leaks after test drive
Recheck axle nut staking and ball joint cotter pins after test drive
Verify transmission shifts properly through all gears with correct fluid level

🔧Stuck on this cv axles - front pair? Take it to The Diag Desk.A human with 20+ years in the bay answers about YOUR Honda within 24 hours — never AI. $25, and you're not charged unless you get an answer.Ask a tech →