What sound does a damaged CV joint make?
2 Answers
The most obvious sign of inner CV joint damage is a "clicking" noise coming from the transmission area when accelerating or driving on uneven roads, accompanied by CV joint grease leakage. In severe cases, abnormal sounds may also occur when turning the car. Below is relevant information about CV joints:1. There are two common types of CV joints in cars: one is the fixed-type ball cage joint (RF joint), which allows only relative rotation between the driving and driven shafts without axial displacement during torque transmission, typically used near the wheels (commonly referred to as the outer CV joint); the other is the sliding-type ball cage joint (VL joint), which not only allows relative rotation but also axial displacement during torque transmission, usually installed near the drive axle (commonly known as the inner CV joint).2. In most cases of CV joint damage, the "clicking" noise occurs mainly during acceleration when the vehicle is under load, rarely during coasting. Intermittent acceleration and deceleration can help detect excessive play in the front axle's CV joints. Excessive CV joint play may cause slight front wheel vibration during startup and noticeable power transfer fluctuations when releasing the throttle.
I last encountered this issue while taking a highway curve when a sudden metallic clicking sound came from under the car, very much like marbles rattling in a tin can. The noise was most noticeable during hard acceleration in turns and diminished when straightening the wheel. It was accompanied by slight vibrations transmitted to the steering wheel. Upon inspection, I found the driveshaft boot torn with all the grease leaked out. This kind of sound can't be ignored - delaying repairs could ruin the entire driveshaft. Ultimately, replacing the CV joint assembly fixed the problem.
