Are CV Joints Toast?

[Oi-Punx]

My '84 944 recently started shrieking horribly when the steering wheel is turned to full lock (left or right). If i'm not mistaken the CV joints are probably in need of replacing and will also need to be repacked. The car has 95k miles on it and I don't think it was ever done before. Anyone know what this sound might be if it's not the CV joints? What does this procedure cost?

[Bob's944]

Hmmmm, sounds like more of a power steering problem to me. Is your power steering fluid level full? Typically CV joints make a clunking noise when they go.

[scoober78]

I agree... check fluid and belts...sometimes they make that noise if they aren't tensioned properly or if they are old

Erik

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Go the distance....

[MAS]

I agree... CV joints "click"... and the sound comes from the back axle, where the 4 CV joints are located. You problem sounds like the steering or power steering. Like the others said, check the fluid level first, as it's likely very low. Don't drive the car any longer until you've checked out the power steering fluid level, as you'll do some expensive damage to the system.

-Zog

[Craig944]

Check Power Steering fluid.

[Lawrence Coppari]

I vote for a power steering problem.

[javier]

my vote is also for a power steering problem... if its low, be sure to put ATF in it and not some PS fluid.

[Blackfoot]

i vote for a total engine rebuild. sorry, oi. :-0

[javier]

if I was from Florida, i could vote twice. My second vote would be for a new radiator.

[Oi-Punx]

Thanks for the help guys.

Here's more of the story. I took a friend who just arrived from out of state up into the hills to where he is staying (Skyline & Hwy 9 for those of you in the Bay Area). We ended up going down a VERY steep dirt road with no pavement. I tried in vain for several minutes to turn around in a turnout. I backed up, wheels spinning and dirt, rocks and debris flying everywhere and finally made it back up this road after it was obvious that had I gone any further I wouldn't have gotten back up without a winch. It's when I was spinning the rear tires that the car first started making the dreadful noise. I checked the PS fluid level an hour after the incident and it was fine. Three days later there is no noise??!! Hmm.... guess I'll have to keep an eye out on it. It was only happening with the steering at full lock, when I backed off the steering by mere millimeters the noise stopped. Would this incident have contributed to the noise? Why would it have stopped?

Thanks again for the help.

[MB_Electronics_944]

Usually a screeching sound at full steering lock is from the power steering belt as you have stalled the power steering pump by going to hard full-lock.

While this can many times be corrected by tightening the power steering belt, it is not a good idea to go to full lock and then apply additional pressure to the wheel. It serves no purpose and is very hard on the power steering system.