Do you know that your car transfers power to all the wheels through the constant velocity (CV) joints? The CV joints work well when they are well lubricated and will transfer power smoothly to the wheels no matter the steering angle.
However, the CV joints may fail, and thus you should look for inner CV joint failure symptoms to diagnose and repair the failure. The tire edge may grease, and the vehicle may cause noises, bounce, experience vibrations, and knocking sounds when the CV joint fails. These are ways to diagnose and repair failed car CV joints.
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What Happens When Inner CV Joint Fails?
1. Grease on the car wheel rim
Your car will have spot grease on the tire edge, especially if there is a tiny crack on the tire. The grease flow indicates issues with the CV joint, and it would be better to see a mechanic as soon as the grease leaks from the tire rim.
If the grease is light-colored, the CV joint damage is insignificant, but darker grease indicates severe CV joint damage, which requires immediate attention.
2. Clicking and popping sound
If the CV joint has failed, you will hear loud noises when turning the car. You may hear the clicking and popping sound when turning the car’s steering. By shifting the gear to reverse, you may test if the clicking sound originates from the failed CV joint.
The popping sound will be loud when reversing the car, and you may turn the wheel to one side. Turning the wheel on one side creates an imbalance on the wheels, especially when the CV joint is broken, leading to clicking sounds.
You can step on the gas pedal to increase acceleration as it indicates if the CV joint is faulty. The car will produce a clicking sound during acceleration, indicating the CV joint failure.
You should test the car in an open field since you would be testing the car by moving forward and reversing. Testing it on the road might lead to an accident.
Thus, you should ensure the area is clear. You will hear the clicking sound in an open field far from the noise of the jammed roads.
The clicking sound will lead you to the CV joint problems making it possible to replace the faulty joint or the entire shaft assembly.
3. Your car will bounce
Your car can bounce when driving on rugged terrain, but a bounce on a flat paved road might indicate underlying inner CV joint failure. Thus, the bounce should prompt you to visit an auto shop for transmission repairs to alleviate CV joint failure.
4. Vibrations
Vibration is another inner CV failure symptom that you should not overlook. The CV joint will vibrate as it does not balance due to failure. Therefore, the more the driver accelerates, the more the vibrations.
Controlling a vibrating car might be difficult as the vibrations impact the riding experience. You might become less comfortable and safe in your car and ultimately need to replace the faulty CV joint.
5. The car will have a knocking sound
A worn-out CV joint will produce a knocking sound from the front-wheel drive and the inner joint. The knocking sound might come from the inner or outer joints of the rear wheel or the gears.
You can test the knocking sound by accelerating the vehicle and decelerating. If you feel the knocking sound moving the vehicle faster and slowing down, your car will have inner CV joint failure.
Additionally, stepping on the gas and decelerating result in louder knocking, proofing faulty CV joint.
What Does A Bad Inner CV Joint Sound Like?
The bad inner CV joint produces different sounds. You should be keen to note any strange sounds when driving your car. First, you will hear the popping and clicking sound.
Although all the popping and clicking sounds do not indicate inner CV failure, you will perform an inquiry by stepping on the gas pedal to increase acceleration. The car will produce a clicking sound during acceleration, indicating the CV joint failure.
The car might develop knocking sounds that show CV joint imbalance. The knocking sounds will get louder if you accelerate and decelerate quickly. Thus, it is better to seek help from a mechanic if the car develops a knocking sound.
How Do You Fix An Inner CV Joint?
Your car will produce different sounds during acceleration and deceleration and acceleration, and you should ensure the issue is inner CV joint failure before trying any repairs.
Let the mechanic inspect the vehicle, especially if you don’t understand how power transmission works. The mechanic might repair the faulty CV joint or replace the whole CV system depending on the extent of the damage.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace An Inner CV Joint?
The CV joint cost differs from one car model to another. Depending on the model and the retail store, it may cost between $95 and $210.
However, you will hire a mechanic to fix the faulty CV joint, which may cost about $165 to $1000 depending on the labor cost in your state, and whether you are replacing the double or single axle.
How Long Can You Drive With A Damaged CV Joint?
You should avoid driving a car with a faulty CV joint. You can drive to your mechanic to fix the problem if you discover the issue while on the road.
The clicking, popping, knocking, and vibrations make it difficult to control a car with CV joint failure. You will likely be involved in an accident if your car bounces and vibrates on a flat paved road. It is wise to replace the faulty CV joint quickly.
Can You Replace Just One CV Joint?
You can replace a single CV joint axle. However, the mechanic should ensure the other axle is functional to avoid recurrent faulty CV issues.
Conclusion
Your car transfer power through the CV joints to the four wheels, and CV failure will impact your car. You will hear knocking, popping, and clicking when accelerating and decelerating the car.
A little tear on the wheel will cause fluid leakage on the rim. You should fix the inner CV failure immediately to avoid damaging your car or getting into an accident.
