Weird Zombie CV Axle?

[2012, 145,000 Miles, Bone Stock, Single Owner]

Context: About 4 years ago, I was under my car and noticed grease flung all over the side of the engine and discovered that the driver-side, inner CV boot had an inch tear. This is the original CV axle that came brand new with the car. I never bothered to replace the boot or axle because I did not trust DTA axles and OEM were expensive as hell. 4 years and 50,000 miles later, my driving conditions have been perfect, no clicking, no vibrating, no knocking at any speeds of driving…however I do have one weird, consistent occurrence that has developed and I am unsure it is even the CV axle? It only happens when I am turning the car at crawling speeds (5-10mph), there will be a loud, continuous groaning/moaning sound mostly from underneath the driver-side that matches the tempo of the wheel speed, but only at 5-10mph and turning, never in a straight line. It gets louder the more the wheel is turned to the right and quietest when the wheel is turned left. Does this sound like it would be a symptom of the CV axle? I feel like the axle would have a lot more signs of failure like clicking or vibrating, but my driving conditions say otherwise… I am quite stumped

 

I would believe your issue to be related to that CV. You could have had your boot replaced and would have probably not suffered any ill effects. Now that time and milage has passed, you are in for a rebuild or replacement.

This was my left rear inner cup. All I had was a vibration at 70mph.

 

I love my DTA axles, holding 400 hp nicely

 

So am I understanding this correctly?

You found grease slung all over the place under the car and then found a tear in the CV boot? Didn't fix it and then proceeded to drive it 50,000 more miles with said tear in boot?
I'm with Synthetic on this one for sure if that's what happened!

 

Oof, thats beat up pretty good. I'm assuming thats what mine looks like. Im gonna be replacing the inner joint on mine. How was the disassembly and assembly for you? Im gonna be following the service manual. Anything to note so I dont screw anything up or is it pretty straightforward? Thanks.

 

I sent mine out to be rebuilt by a company that does custom shaft work. They cut off the tulip and welded a new one on. They also heat treat the repaired tulip which is not always available at all shops.