Bad CV Joint symptoms and their causes
The Constant Velocity (CV ) joint connects the transmission, axle, and car wheels. CV joints are generally used by cars with front-wheel drive and All-wheel drive, two on the right side and two on the left. Each CV joint is protected by a boot made of rubber or plastic.
The CV joint function is to transmit rotational power from the transmission to the wheels. It also provides widely turning angles when the rotation is in progress. Because of their significant role and heavy workload, CV joints are very vulnerable to damage. A bad CV joint often creates problems that make uncomfortable and unsafe driving.
The following article will explain bad CV joint symptoms and their causes. See the detailed information below.
I. Bad CV joint symptoms
We can feel from inside the drivers or passenger cabin from bad CV joint symptoms. The symptoms are also quite a lot. Generally, it causes discomfort while driving. Below are signs that often appear when the CV joint is going bad.
1. Clacking sound when turning
The first bad CV joint symptom is the clacking sounds like an iron clashing against the car's front when driving and the steering wheel turned. Since the amounts of CV joints in front-wheel drive vehicles are generally 4 (two on the right and two on the left), then we will also hear the clacking sound that appears from each side. It depends on the side where the CV joint failure occurs.
2. Vibration on the vehicle's body at a certain speed
The next bad CV joint symptom that can be felt is a vibration on the vehicle's body at a certain speed. We would feel the vibration starting from the steering wheel to the body of the vehicle. This vibration generally disappears by itself if we are increasing the car speed.
3. The steering wheel feels pulled to one side, and the car stagnates when driving slowly
The other bad CV joint symptoms are the steering wheel will feel pulled to one side, and the car stagnates when driving slowly. A jammed CV joint often makes the axle rotation weight is not the same and often makes the rotation power of the right and left wheels unbalanced. As a result, the car feels pulled to one side and stagnates when driving slowly.
II. Causes of bad CV joint
The most common cause of a bad CV joint is a loss of grease (lubrication) on the CV joint, which begins with a damaged axle boot. The losses of grease as a lubricating component on the CV joint's bearings will result in severe wear and damage to the CV joint. In some cases, the CV joint can separate accidentally from the outer race due to worn-out or breaking. Below are the most common causes of bad CV joint:
1. Torn axle boot
The first cause of a bad CV joint is a torn axle boot. Axles boots are flexible because generally made from rubber or plastic. This axle boot prevents the grease inside the CV joint from coming out of the joint shell.
When the axle boot is torn, the grease inside the CV joint will run out due to spilling out while the axle's rotation. It also makes it easier for water, dust, and dirt to enter the joints bearing so that the CV Joint dries and loses lubrication.
The loss of grease will make the lubrication on the CV joint disappear gradually. The CV Joint will start to worn-out as indicated by clacking sounds until the CV joint bearing falls out because it does not withstand the heat due to the axle's rotation.
The axle boot can be damaged and torn due to long service life or being hit with other hard and sharp objects while driving.
Read also:2. The axle boot fastener clamp is lost
Another cause of a bad CV joint is the axle boot fastening clamp, loss from its ties. When the axle boot fastener clamp is lost, the CV joint grease will spill out, and the bearing will lose its lubricant.
This axle boot fastening clamp is made from a unique material that does not come off and break easily. The loss of the fastening clamps can occur by several consequences such as :
- Hit by hard and sharp objects while driving
- Poor clamp installation
3. Incorrect installation of CV joints
CV joints are durable and only require maintenance to replace the grease and clamps at a particular time. To replace the grease, you need to disassemble and reassemble the axle boot correctly.
Incorrect installation of CV joints may occur during the service process. It causes the grease to dry out and makes the CV joint damaged. Therefore, it's good to replace grease and cv joint clamps with people or certified technicians who are skilled and used to doing these replacements.
4. Poor quality of CV joint
The original parts price of CV joints for front-wheel-drive cars is relatively high and costly. It makes car owners choose other parts and replace them with cheaper and generally low-quality CV joints.
Using low-quality CV joints is not recommended because they often do not last long when used. For example, the rubber boot stretches quicker because it is not compatible with the CV joint grease. The CV joint is in an unbalanced state and makes vibrations at a certain speed.