Diagnosing CV Joint/Driveshaft problem
Discussion
Hi There,
I've got symptoms of a possible CV Joint/Driveshaft problem, anyone able to advise what has failed?
Firstly, turning right at low speeds while accelerating results in a clicking/banging noise. Sounds like Front Left Outer Joint, but want to be sure.
Secondly, I'm getting some clunking on acceleration/decceleration from standing/when changing down from 3rd to 2nd. Could this be an inner joint/driveshaft? If so, any way to tell what side?
I've got symptoms of a possible CV Joint/Driveshaft problem, anyone able to advise what has failed?
Firstly, turning right at low speeds while accelerating results in a clicking/banging noise. Sounds like Front Left Outer Joint, but want to be sure.
Secondly, I'm getting some clunking on acceleration/decceleration from standing/when changing down from 3rd to 2nd. Could this be an inner joint/driveshaft? If so, any way to tell what side?
It's been a while since I had a fwd kills its cvs but as has been said the first step is to get under the car to see if any of the boots has failed and that will generally point to the one that's died. After that it gets pretty tricky to diagnose this on the car. You could do with working out which one has the play in it but that's quite hard on the car. You might get an indication by jacking up the front of the car and turning each wheel and see if there's any play between the rotation of the wheel and the rotation of the driveshaft but as the suspension will now be at its full droop the problem might be disguised (I've tried to do this with the car in neutral on the floor and me lying under the front when there's room but there's always the chance you'll run yourself over 
). You might be able to tell how much play is in the inner joint but it's always tricky working out whether the play is in the joint or the diff. You could try jacking up the car, putting it on axle stands and then jacking up the wishbone under the lower balljoint to get the driveshaft in a more operationally normal position and then check for play and noises but you'll have to be careful not to damage the wishbone or lift the car off the axle stand.
By far the easiest way is to take the driveshafts off the car and check them for play/wear and replace the bits that are knackered.
Edited to add... don't forget to eliminate the other more obvious sources of the noises before doing the above though like brakes or wheels rubbing against something.
). You might be able to tell how much play is in the inner joint but it's always tricky working out whether the play is in the joint or the diff. You could try jacking up the car, putting it on axle stands and then jacking up the wishbone under the lower balljoint to get the driveshaft in a more operationally normal position and then check for play and noises but you'll have to be careful not to damage the wishbone or lift the car off the axle stand.By far the easiest way is to take the driveshafts off the car and check them for play/wear and replace the bits that are knackered.
Edited to add... don't forget to eliminate the other more obvious sources of the noises before doing the above though like brakes or wheels rubbing against something.
Edited by dern on Wednesday 9th April 15:39
I'll look at the boots tonight and report back!
Definately an outside CV Boot noise, its the other clunking which is worrying me. Still, that one doesn't appear to be getting any worse (actually, that only started after a garage replaced a CV Boot for me, could they have damaged something?)
Definately an outside CV Boot noise, its the other clunking which is worrying me. Still, that one doesn't appear to be getting any worse (actually, that only started after a garage replaced a CV Boot for me, could they have damaged something?)
Pheo said:
I'll look at the boots tonight and report back!
Definately an outside CV Boot noise, its the other clunking which is worrying me. Still, that one doesn't appear to be getting any worse (actually, that only started after a garage replaced a CV Boot for me, could they have damaged something?)
Unlikely. They could have put it back together differently (ball bearings in in a different order for example) which could have accentuated any wear caused by the failure of the boot they were replacing (or just the normal wear).Definately an outside CV Boot noise, its the other clunking which is worrying me. Still, that one doesn't appear to be getting any worse (actually, that only started after a garage replaced a CV Boot for me, could they have damaged something?)
Pheo said:
Well, as its not getting worse I'm not going to worry about it overly (doesn't do it on the motorway or anything). The other noise is definately an outer CV joint though I think. Thanks for your help so far.
You're welcome.It it were me I'd simply change the cv and see if it affected the other noise given that you're only looking at 30 quid for the joint plus vat... http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/cv-joint-details.php?t...
Good luck.
Cheers Dern,
I might well do this, the only problem being I don't really have all the tools to do this I don't think. Will talk to a friend who might do today.
However I'm reading stuff at the moment which indicates that a clunk coming on/off the power indicates a worn inner joint as well, so am trying to ascertain if one of those has gone simply because it would be annoying to replace the CV joint and then find the driveshaft has failed.
I might well do this, the only problem being I don't really have all the tools to do this I don't think. Will talk to a friend who might do today.
However I'm reading stuff at the moment which indicates that a clunk coming on/off the power indicates a worn inner joint as well, so am trying to ascertain if one of those has gone simply because it would be annoying to replace the CV joint and then find the driveshaft has failed.
Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff