So what does a normal vs. bad CV joint sound like?

[Dimitrios]

So, late last Tuesday, I was coming home from the city and took some side streets vs. the interstate (at this point, about 10 minutes travel difference).

It was about midnight and I took a right turn onto a street that had its asphalt stripped off and basically had the manhole covers and other drains visible and protruding a good 6+ inches.

I took the turn at about 25 mph, but because it's poorly lit at that intersection (and that my expectation was that it wouldn't be strippped), the car took the turn a bit rough.

Ever since then, I've been getting a light clicking sound - akin to a rock stuck in a tire tread - while making a right turn (with the steering wheel about 10 to 15 degrees from the horizontal, so corners and most on/off ramps included).

I put it up on jacks last night, yanked off the wheels on all corners and no rocks and nothing really showing (MSP wheels with 215/45/17s) in the tread sans a few pebbles (normal).

I started her up on the jacks, threw it in 1st and let it just run. On turning the wheel right nearly to the lock, I got a "clicking" sound every revolution of the halfshaft near the inner CV joint (the boots are all intact, btw). The other side didn't exhibit this.

However, I also decided to rotate the wheels (about 1000 miles on them now) and after a test spin last night and the commute this morning, I don't hear the clicking.

I'm taking her to the dealer (just rolled 50k yesterday, though the service manager said it shouldn't be a problem looking at it - obviously I haven't mentioned how the CV may have been damaged and don't intend to).

*gasp*...question time:

* Should a normal CV joint exhibit any noise near the lock of the steering rack?
* If it is the CV (or both) would I just also be better replacing the other side as well? I'd do that myself unless the price isn't that exhorbinant from the dealer.

I know these are "newbie" questions, but I haven't ever had a CV go out on any FWD car I've owned, so knowing what's normal and what's not is helpful.

Thanks,
D

 

[Captain KRM P5]

i had a CV joint go bad on my 1990 fwd corolla. it was the result of a torn grease boot. every time i made a turn while applying the gas pedal i would hear a ticking or clicking noise from the front of the car. it required a new halfshaft to be put in.

you could also check the balljoints and hubs/bearings. on my father's truck we recently replaced the front hub and balljoints to eliminate a similar sound.

 

[Dimitrios]

Thanks; I don't have any forks to check the play of any balljoints so off to the dealer she'll go,if anything just because warranty may/may not cover it so the chance is better of my feta allowance money from being drained.

 

[onewhippedpuppy]

Sounds exactly like a CV. Might as well do them both while you're under there. Sometimes you can also feel it when you rev up the engine, then quickly let off of the gas, there will be a bit of a clunk. Often times they're sold as an entire unit, i.e. both cvs and a half shaft already assembled, which makes changing them out very easy. Doing each CV individually will save you money, but take quite a bit more time. If you're feeling cheap, a lot of times if the clicking is very faint you can get away with tearing down the joint, cleaning it well, then re-lubing it and replacing the boot. Major PITA though.

 

[Dimitrios]

No, I think if I were to do it myself, I would just replace the entire (probably both) half-shafts....er, axles rather.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

Major PITA though.

Dimitrios knows all about pitas.

 

[Dimitrios]

Dimitrios knows all about pitas.

Yes, I do Mr. Worsteiner

I think this may have been the cause to my "clicking": http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123642408

...as I have yet to hear it since the other night.

I haven't taken it to the dealer as yet, but depending on how she feels over the next few drives, I will (I may just for grins)