If you suddenly hear loud clicking while turning- whether just in one direction or in all directions- that is a good indication of a blown CV joint. Again though, there are other possible reasons for a clicking, so best not jump to conclusions and instead let a professional officially diagnose the problem.
Clicking sound when turning: This is the most common symptom of a bad CV axle and is most often heard during sharp turns at lower speeds. Clunking sound on acceleration or deceleration: When the inner CV joint begins to fail, you may experience a clunking sound when accelerating or quickly letting off the accelerator.
The Constant Velocity is sealed by a boot. This boot may get damaged, and when this happens, the joint will wear out and eventually fail. If you drive a car with a damaged CV, the joint will disintegrate further, making driving impossible. You'll not be able to control the vehicle and may get involved in an accident.
What is a classic symptom of a front drive axle going bad?
A Loud Clanking, Clunking, or Clicking
If there is an unusual loud clanking or clunking as you put your vehicle into gear, or if a vehicle seems to struggle to get power as it starts to move, there may be axle-joint damage.
Drive the vehicle in reverse while accelerating then decelerating in succession. If there's a very pronounced clunking noise, there's a good chance an inner joint is worn out.
About as long as it takes to separate :). Seriously, it's a bad idea to delay repairs to CV joints as when the CV joint fails the wheel stops turning. Such a catastrophic event while driving at speed is unconscionable.
Replacing a CV joint yourself will save you a fair bit of money, but will require a decent amount of mechanical expertise and time. If you think the job is too complicated, it's recommended that you leave the task to a qualified technician. This can also help protect you from voiding any motor plan or warranty.
The price to replace a CV joint, or joints, will depend on the age, make, and model of your vehicle. If you own a mainstream affordable vehicle, the price to replace a CV joint is likely to run in the range of $900 to $1200. The majority of the cost will be labor.
These joints can generally last up to 100,000 miles. However, because CV axles are constantly rotating and flexing to accommodate the condition of the road, they can wear out and fail, resulting in a costly CV joint repair.
One of the most prevalent CV joint issues is when the protective boot breaks or cracks, resulting in CV joint failure. Debris and dampness will enter the CV joint as grease leaks. Due to a lack of lubrication and corrosion, the CV joint will wear out faster and fail.
When the CV joint fails, the axle will break, and the car won't move. Matters can get worse if this happens while you are driving. That's why you need to have your CV joint checked regularly. If you need CV joint repair, give our auto repair shop a call today!
Consequently, the right outer CV joint and boot are the first to go. Special tools that may be needed to replace a shaft include a hub puller to separate the outer CV joint from the steering knuckle and wheel bearing and/or a hydraulic press for older Asian car applications with press-fit wheel bearings.
Can a bad CV joint cause vibration when accelerating?
CV joints are located at the end of each axle. There is both an outer and inner joint. When the inner CV joint is damaged or begins to fail, you will notice your car vibrating under hard acceleration. As it gets worse, the minor vibrations turn to violent shaking when under load.
By the time the leaky boot is discovered, many CV joints are badly contaminated or worn and need to be replaced. CV joints and boots can be replaced individually, but most professional technicians and even do-it-yourselfers prefer to replace the whole halfshaft assembly with a remanufactured shaft.
As long as these boots aren't torn or leaking out the grease, CV joints don't need maintenance and will last for many years and tens of thousands of miles. However, if the protective boot is cracked or torn, the grease will leak out and ultimately cause damage to the CV Joint, due to lack of lubrication.
All front-wheel vehicles contain four CV joints, one at either end of each of the driveshafts running from your transmission to your wheels. Four-wheel drive vehicles also commonly contain CV joints which perform an identical function for the rear wheels.
The Constant Velocity is sealed by a boot. This boot may get damaged, and when this happens, the joint will wear out and eventually fail. If you drive a car with a damaged CV, the joint will disintegrate further, making driving impossible. You'll not be able to control the vehicle and may get involved in an accident.
To tell the difference between a bad wheel bearing and a bad CV joint, listen to the noise. If you hear a grinding, growling, or rumbling noise coming from the affected wheel, it's a bad wheel bearing. If you hear a clicking noise coming from the affected wheel when turning, it's a bad CV joint.
How can you tell the difference between bad CV joints and bad wheel bearings?
To tell the difference between a bad wheel bearing and a bad CV joint, listen to the noise. If you hear a grinding, growling, or rumbling noise coming from the affected wheel, it's a bad wheel bearing. If you hear a clicking noise coming from the affected wheel when turning, it's a bad CV joint.
On most vehicles, if the cv joint fully breaks, the vehicle won't move with it's own power. This is because there is an open differential and all the power goes to the broken cv joint. If you have a locker or limited slip somewhere in the system, power will go somewhere to get you moving.
One indication of a torn boot is grease spots under the front axle or grease splattered on or around the inward-facing side of a wheel. Among the indications that a CV joint or axle has been damaged is a clicking or popping noise when turning, or vibrations at highway speeds.
