Lugging: advanced CV wear???

[larrybuck]

Do SOME of you upshift so early RPM wise, wanting to rush to the highest gear, that to be quite frank, that it is causing premature wearing out/replacement of the CV joints??
Can you be honest?

How wide spread is this problem do you think??

One of the few curses of front wheel drive!??!!!

[Frank Lee]

Lugging is the bucky, jerky response to open throttle at such low rpm and at such load that rpms do not quickly increase.

Nobody should be driving like that.

Above that point, all should be OK.

[ecomodded]

On rare occasions while on a roll up to a stop light or right turn and I try to keep moving and start off in 2nd gear, my engine lugs, I am under the distinct impression it is hard on the bottom end, It could very well be hard on the top end as well. I fear engine damage from lugging not cv damage ? but who knows..

[Ryland]

The CV shafts do not care if you are lugging the engine or not because they are seeing the torque that it takes to move the car.
But if you are driving in such a way as your car is bucking then you are way to high of a gear and are going to wear out things like engine mounts first, you could wear out your clutch springs as well and that is going to be a costly repair.

[mnmarcus]

F.Lee said "...Nobody should be driving like that."

Reminds me of learning to drive a maual diesel rabbit... That thing would buck violently!

CV joints shouldn't wear because of lugging the motor (HP should be low and torque lower as well). Worn CV joints will click- more so if you are turning the drive wheels (steering).

How low an RPM is "safe" to drive at? Seems like my Vibe cuts off fuel at 1,100 rpm with no gas pedal. I try to keep the RPMs below 2,000 usually.