WHAT IS A CV JOINT?

The CV or constant velocity joint, is a flexible part of your vehicles drive shaft system. The constant velocity refers to the steady spinning of your wheels regardless of up and down movement in your suspension. They allow a transfer of power from your transmission to your wheels at various angles without increasing friction or motion. CV joints essentially are a complex ball and socket joint.

All front-wheel-drive cars have CV joints on both ends of the axle shafts. The outside CV joints connect the drive shaft to the wheels, while the inside joints connect the driveshafts to the transmission. CV joints are usually packed with grease and sealed tight with a plastic or rubber boot held in place by clamps.

The most common issue with a constant velocity joint occurs when the boot gets cracked, torn, or damaged. Once the damage occurs, moisture and dirt are able to get in. This causes the CV joint to wear faster and eventually fail. Due to the greater amount of movement, it’s more common for the outer joint boot to break. A symptom to look for would be a clicking or popping noise while turning. Especially if you hear the noise get louder when accelerating while turning. The sound will get noisier as the condition worsens. Per usual, take your vehicle to an ASE certified technician to determine if you need your vehicle serviced.