Checking The CV Joint - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

kurty[B] · 06-24-2003, 09:52 PM

So, sometimes when I apply pressure to the gas, or release pressure rapidly from the gas of my car I hear a fairly loud *clunk* from the front of my car. This is actually when I have it in gear, if the car is in neutral it doesn't make any noise (the car is a manual transmission). Sometimes when turning to the left and barely accelerating it makes a consistent "clunk clunk clunk".

About two years ago I noticed I had a torn CV boot. I probably drove around for another three months before I got around to replacing the boot. Not sure how long before it had torn, could have been a couple months. I simply replaced the CV boot. So now, the CV boot and everything under the car appears to look proper, no leaks of any sort. Is there a way for me to check to see if the CV Joint has gone bad without pulling apart the boot? Or by the clunking noise is it a given that the Joint is bad?

Currently I'm leaning towards simply going and replacing the CV Joint.

Ashton · 06-25-2003, 01:40 AM

The CV joint is packed with grease that is held in by the CV boot..... when the CV boot is cracked or torn the centrifugal force throws the grease out of the boot and the CV joint runs dry until it wears out...... that's the clunking sound you hear, usually it's when you are going around a corner at low speed..... It's a common problem with front wheel drive cars, all you can do is replace the CV joint and keep a eye on the boot..... since it is new you won't have to worry about it for awhile but it's always a good idea to keep a eye on it. Next time you see a old front wheel drive car turn a corner, listen for the Clack Clack Clack, and you will know whats wrong with it.

perkins · 06-25-2003, 07:29 PM

yeah I'd go ahead and replace the cv joint with the torn boot. Let us know if you need help with that.

kurty[B] · 06-26-2003, 06:35 AM

there is currently no torn boot (I replaced the boot two years ago). The boots are fine, but there is a clunking noise. I know how to replace the boot and the cv joint it's just one of the least favorite things I like to do on a car.

boredjerk · 06-26-2003, 09:31 PM

If it's clunking when you turn it's bad. But you can drive around on 'em for a hell of a long time before they fall out. Procrastinate for a while.

Tirian · 06-27-2003, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kurty[B]
S Sometimes when turning to the left and barely accelerating it makes a consistent "clunk clunk clunk".

Is there a way for me to check to see if the CV Joint has gone bad without pulling apart the boot? Or by the clunking noise is it a given that the Joint is bad?
.

No need to check the joint... if it makes that sound when you turn it needs to be replaced. Your intuition was correct.

eaglek96 · 06-28-2003, 06:55 AM

Driving around with a cracked boot for even a couple days can damage the boot. The grease spins out pretty quickly actually, and the CV joint won't work without that grease. Even if you put a new boot on, the damage has already been done. CV joints are fairly cheap now, except for the labor. If you want to tackle it yourself its not too bad if you know what you are doing.

Its ok to drive around with the clunking, but eventually you will notice the front end shaking at high speeds, and that shake eventually starts wearing out other parts, like the shafts and seals on the tranny, so I wouldn't wait forever if I were you. I can
t think of any way to check it, but as a rule of thumb, if it clunks, its bad.

tman17m · 06-28-2003, 11:06 AM

i just replaced both my half shafts in my toyota. its really not that bad to do. id recommend replacing the half shafts instead of just repacking it with grease and putting on a new boot. Once the grease has been let out of the joint and you hear the "clunk clunk" you have done unfixable damage to the cv joint.

not to bash on you eaglek, but just to set the record straight. is not a good idea at all to drive around on a broken cv joint. they can freeze up if they are let go too long. just like an engine without oil. if they freeze up and youre driving along...big trouble. also, they can actually break from the thermal stress induced by the fact that they are not properly lubercated. and if they break, well you wont be driving anywhere.

eaglek96 · 06-28-2003, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tman17m
not to bash on you eaglek, but just to set the record straight. is not a good idea at all to drive around on a broken cv joint. they can freeze up if they are let go too long. just like an engine without oil. if they freeze up and youre driving along...big trouble. also, they can actually break from the thermal stress induced by the fact that they are not properly lubercated. and if they break, well you wont be driving anywhere.

No prob. Its not really a bash. As a rule of thumb, if there is something wrong with a car, fix it before more trouble comes.

kurty[B] · 07-01-2003, 10:17 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I was having trouble pinpointing which CV joint the clunking was coming from, but after taking the car up Pikes Peak for the International Hill Climb (I know very stupid very stupid) the noise got horribly worse, and it was obvious that the right joint was gone. So, I replaced it, and the majority of the noise has gone away, the driver's side is making a very slight clunking too though. Will probably replace that one before the end of the month. Thanks for the info, and opinions.

DEI37 · 07-08-2003, 03:12 PM

CV joints won't clunk. They will click when turning. What you're describing sounds more like a ball joint, or a tie rod/tie rod end. I highly doubt that it's a CV joint, given the description you give. Unless the clunking you describe actually is a click, in which case you'd be right.
Also, you won't go anywhere on a broken CV joint. The car just won't go anywhere.

kurty[B] · 07-08-2003, 08:19 PM

I dunno, but I replaced the whole half-shaft on the right side, and the noise has gone. The inner CV joint was pretty much disintegrated... Not sure why, because the boot was still fully sealed, and there was plenty of grease (although old nasty grease) in there. I've replaced the whole suspension, springs, struts, ball joints, tie rod ends, and wheel bearings about a year ago, so I hope none of those things have gone bad already. Thanks for the input though.

06-24-2003, 09:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
kurty[B] Sauce Puppet	Checking The CV Joint So, sometimes when I apply pressure to the gas, or release pressure rapidly from the gas of my car I hear a fairly loud clunk from the front of my car. This is actually when I have it in gear, if the car is in neutral it doesn't make any noise (the car is a manual transmission). Sometimes when turning to the left and barely accelerating it makes a consistent "clunk clunk clunk". About two years ago I noticed I had a torn CV boot. I probably drove around for another three months before I got around to replacing the boot. Not sure how long before it had torn, could have been a couple months. I simply replaced the CV boot. So now, the CV boot and everything under the car appears to look proper, no leaks of any sort. Is there a way for me to check to see if the CV Joint has gone bad without pulling apart the boot? Or by the clunking noise is it a given that the Joint is bad? Currently I'm leaning towards simply going and replacing the CV Joint.

06-26-2003, 09:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
boredjerk Insane Location: Antarctica	If it's clunking when you turn it's bad. But you can drive around on 'em for a hell of a long time before they fall out. Procrastinate for a while. __________________ Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke.

07-08-2003, 03:12 PM	#11 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	CV joints won't clunk. They will click when turning. What you're describing sounds more like a ball joint, or a tie rod/tie rod end. I highly doubt that it's a CV joint, given the description you give. Unless the clunking you describe actually is a click, in which case you'd be right. Also, you won't go anywhere on a broken CV joint. The car just won't go anywhere. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

06-25-2003, 01:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ashton PORNHOUND Location: California	The CV joint is packed with grease that is held in by the CV boot..... when the CV boot is cracked or torn the centrifugal force throws the grease out of the boot and the CV joint runs dry until it wears out...... that's the clunking sound you hear, usually it's when you are going around a corner at low speed..... It's a common problem with front wheel drive cars, all you can do is replace the CV joint and keep a eye on the boot..... since it is new you won't have to worry about it for awhile but it's always a good idea to keep a eye on it. Next time you see a old front wheel drive car turn a corner, listen for the Clack Clack Clack, and you will know whats wrong with it.

06-25-2003, 07:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
perkins Upright	yeah I'd go ahead and replace the cv joint with the torn boot. Let us know if you need help with that.

06-26-2003, 06:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
kurty[B] Sauce Puppet	there is currently no torn boot (I replaced the boot two years ago). The boots are fine, but there is a clunking noise. I know how to replace the boot and the cv joint it's just one of the least favorite things I like to do on a car.

06-28-2003, 06:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
eaglek96 Upright Location: North Shore, Massachusetts	Driving around with a cracked boot for even a couple days can damage the boot. The grease spins out pretty quickly actually, and the CV joint won't work without that grease. Even if you put a new boot on, the damage has already been done. CV joints are fairly cheap now, except for the labor. If you want to tackle it yourself its not too bad if you know what you are doing. Its ok to drive around with the clunking, but eventually you will notice the front end shaking at high speeds, and that shake eventually starts wearing out other parts, like the shafts and seals on the tranny, so I wouldn't wait forever if I were you. I can t think of any way to check it, but as a rule of thumb, if it clunks, its bad.

06-28-2003, 11:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
tman17m Psycho Location: my cubicle	i just replaced both my half shafts in my toyota. its really not that bad to do. id recommend replacing the half shafts instead of just repacking it with grease and putting on a new boot. Once the grease has been let out of the joint and you hear the "clunk clunk" you have done unfixable damage to the cv joint. not to bash on you eaglek, but just to set the record straight. is not a good idea at all to drive around on a broken cv joint. they can freeze up if they are let go too long. just like an engine without oil. if they freeze up and youre driving along...big trouble. also, they can actually break from the thermal stress induced by the fact that they are not properly lubercated. and if they break, well you wont be driving anywhere.

07-01-2003, 10:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
kurty[B] Sauce Puppet	Thanks for the help guys. I was having trouble pinpointing which CV joint the clunking was coming from, but after taking the car up Pikes Peak for the International Hill Climb (I know very stupid very stupid) the noise got horribly worse, and it was obvious that the right joint was gone. So, I replaced it, and the majority of the noise has gone away, the driver's side is making a very slight clunking too though. Will probably replace that one before the end of the month. Thanks for the info, and opinions.

07-08-2003, 08:19 PM	#12 (permalink)
kurty[B] Sauce Puppet	I dunno, but I replaced the whole half-shaft on the right side, and the noise has gone. The inner CV joint was pretty much disintegrated... Not sure why, because the boot was still fully sealed, and there was plenty of grease (although old nasty grease) in there. I've replaced the whole suspension, springs, struts, ball joints, tie rod ends, and wheel bearings about a year ago, so I hope none of those things have gone bad already. Thanks for the input though.