Bad CV Joint? How can I tell?
 

My car has been making an intermittent clacking sound recently. It disappears for a few days then suddenly comes back then disappears again the same day. The frequency of the sound increases with speed and only occurs under load, ie. it doesn't make it if I come off the accelerator and coast. Sounds like it is from the passenger side.

How can I tell if it is the CV joint?

If it is should I just replace the whole rear axel assembly (over 200k miles)?

How difficult is this project?

79SC

This is a pretty do-able project. There are six bolts on each CV flange, that are probably allen-head. The shaft and CV joints come right out after removing these. Use two tubes of the special CV grease on each joint, making sure the grease gets all over inside the joint. Cleaning and inspection will tell you which joints are worst. All mine were scored but not making noise so, cheapskate taht I am, I cleaned and regreased them, and put them on the opposite side of the car. The project is messy but quite do-able.

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'83 SC

The only definitive way to tell their condition is to remove, disassemble them and clean them ... one at a time.

The following pages have sone good pics and maintenance info:

http://www.type2.com/bartnik/cvjoints.htm

http://volksweb.relitech.com/cvjoints.htm


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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa
1992 Dodge Dakota 5.2 4X4 parts hauler

I can tell you the CV joints are definately a DIY kind of job.
I am a righty tighty, lefty loosey kind of guy, by no means a mechanic. I have a CV boot that has torn several times, so I decided to do it myself. The hardest part by FAR was getting the axle nut off- finally borrowed a neighbors impact wrench- bent my 1/2" breaker bar and the nut didn't budge. The rest of the job was easy- so far. Boot is due in from Pelican Monday, and I just need to put it all back together. Thanks go to this board for all their help. Actually a pretty easy, but messy job. I need to do the Aarm bushings next.
Gary

You don't necassarily have to remove the axle nut. If you remove the 6 allen head bolts on both the trans. side and the wheel hub side you can avoid that 250 ft.lb. nut.

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Rob Fix
'78 SC Targa