How do you know if your CV joint is bad?

[VaSteve]

I have a clunk when moving from a stop coming from the back. I don't know if it always happens, but I seem to notice it when I leave the driveway...I guess by the time I hit the traffic lights, the tunes are on. I think it might be the CV joint(s).



I'm going to crawl under there tommorow and check it out. What am I looking for? Splattered grease, loose bolts? What else? How are these checked/tested at tech session?



Many thanks!

[craigster59]

CV joints ( constant velocity) usualy "click" on turns when they are going out. That has been my experience w/ my old VW. Not so much on the straights, since they are like a differential.

[randywebb]

look for all the above - & torque the bolts too

[cab83_750]

I think, in most cases, the CV would click when turning. However....

My '83 SC right rear had a bad CV. It was clicking intermittently even when driving straight in stop-n-go traffic. No clicking when turning. No sign of wear. Replaced it and never occurred again.

[ianc]

CV's will typically make noise only when turning. The noise can be anything from a clicking to a 'whup-whup-whup' noise. Look for ripped boots when you're under there, as a ripped boot is the fastest CV killer there is. They can also be tested by placing large channel locks over the body of the joint itself and vice grips on the axle and turning these in opposing directions to check for relative movement. Don't do this with the car jacked up as the position of the balls in their races will be different than when the car is level. If you find problems, replace. Failure at high speed can be catastrophic,

ianc

[Kurt B]

Sometimes they just explode and you can't drive anymore. That was my experience a few years back. Takes around 2-3 hours your first time to put in new ones (one side, inner and outer).