Learn the early warning
signs
of a failing CV joint
What
do shoes, belts, mufflers and boots have in common? They're
all car parts, of course, the latter being less familiar to
most drivers. While brake shoes, drive belts and mufflers have
been around since the first days of the automobile, boots (they're
the protective cover on the flexible CV joints) are relatively
new among automotive terms. Found on front wheel drive as well
as some four-wheel drive vehicles, they are vulnerable to damage
from road debris such as flying stones. This kind of damage
allows contamination and leakage of the lubricant contained
within the boot.
Unless
the cut or crack is discovered quickly, lost lubricant soon
leads to failure of the component. A new boot and replacement
of lost fluid can be the cure if detection is early. However,
because this is a labor-intensive procedure, customers frequently
are advised to install a rebuilt axle/joint assembly, which
includes a new boot.
Knowing
the circumstances under which your symptoms occur can be useful,
says the Car Care Council. For example, if you notice a noise
while turning you may have a bad outer CV joint, they advise.
Shuddering, vibration or a clunking sound when accelerating
or decelerating may mean trouble in the inner, the outer joint
or both. Worst case scenario: the total failure of this component
causes a catastrophic loss of power and/or steering. If you're
lucky you'll only need to be towed in.
Most
people are unaware of the early warning signs of a failing CV
joint, much less the leak that caused the problem, according
to auto repair shop owner Gary Hinson. "In fact",
he claims "people tend to ignore leaks of all kinds, brake
fluid, transmission, engine and other. One customer whose car
needed a new CV joint is a recent example," he says. "When
I asked how long she'd noticed the leak on her garage floor,
she admitted to a couple of months. Even more important than
the repair cost is her susceptibility to serious car trouble
far from home."
Provided
as a public service by the Car Care Council
