WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CV JOINT FAILURE

A common failure point on newer cars is broken CV joint boots. The CV boots are especially prone to failure in tight urban areas where constant turning and parking maneuvers are required. WARNING SHUT OFF CAR BEFORE ATTEMPTING Above are some pictures of Outer CV boot failures You might be asking what the heck are CV boots? The transmission of your car is connected to the wheels via a set of axle shafts. These shafts have (CV, Constant Velocity) joints on the inner and outer portions of the shafts. These joints allow the shaft and wheels to move and turn independently of each other. The CV joints must remain lubricated in order to move freely. The lubricant for the joint is grease, and this grease is contained within a rubber accordion-style boot. The boot is in constant motion, expanding and contracting, while the wheels are being steered. This constant motion leads to eventual failure of the boot. Need more info baydiagnostic.com You can notice the grease has splattered all over the inside of the wheel and all over the suspension components. This is usually a giveaway to a broken CV boot, as there are no other signs of failure. (see left) Above are some pictures of Outer CV boot failures As stated earlier, there are no warning signs when a CV boot breaks. The car will continue to drive normally for a period of time. Replacing the CV boot at this point will be an economical repair. However, if left unrepaired, a clicking noise will begin to develop during tight turns. Once this noise appears, the CV joint has gone without lubricant for too long, and is permanently damaged. The simple, economical CV boot repair has now become an expensive CV joint replacement. Have a shop inspect the CV boots any time the car is on the lift, as it only takes minutes, and can prevent expensive repairs in the future. Insider Tip: Many shops like to replace the complete axle assembly whenever presented with a CV boot or CV joint failure. This is because it is more profitable for the shop to replace the entire axle as a unit as opposed to the boot or joint itself. Be aware that the replacement axles are almost always rebuilt, substandard units. The replacements will have a shorter service life than the original factory components. At Bay Diagnostic, we always use factory quality boots and never replace complete axle assemblies unless absolutely necessary. Need more info baydiagnostic.com