Checking Your CV Joints

Automotive Guide - http://www.automotive-guide.net

By: Kum Martin

Your car is probably front wheel drive, and is equipped with CV joints, or "constant velocity joints." These joints transfer power from the engine to the front wheels. These should be inspected regularly to insure that the integrity of rubber boot that surrounds the metal inside. If this boots breaks, the components inside become exposed to the elements and can very quickly destroy the entire axle.

Bad CV joint boots can cause a knocking sound when the wheel is turned in a certain direction, on acceleration or braking, or at irregular, seemingly unrelated intervals. There also may be vibration. This symptom is more often evident at high speeds, that being above 60 miles per hour.

Whether or not you perceive any of these symptoms, it's a good idea to check your CV joints every now and then anyway. To examine your CV joints, turn the wheel to the outside and peer in the wheel arch. The boot should be dry and intact. If there is oil inside the wheel arch and the boot appears cracked and broken then it is necessary to replace the CV joint boot as soon as possible.

This should probably be done by a mechanic, and it provides an opportunity to do routine maintenance and catch unexpected problems. If you wish to replace the joint yourself, it best to follow closely both the shop manual and obtain the advice of a person who has personally worked on your kind of vehicle, as procedures may vary between models.

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