Four Symptoms of a Bad CV Joint

A CV, or constant velocity, joint is a type of joint found on CV axle shafts—the connections responsible for transferring power from the differential or transmission to the wheels. Most front-wheel-drive vehicles, all-wheel-drive vehicles, and rear-wheel-drive vehicles with independent rear suspension feature CV axles. 

What Does a CV Joint Do? 

Each CV axle uses two CV joints—the inner and outer. These specialized joints are engineered to maintain consistent speeds, regardless of the suspension height or wheel angle, delivering smooth and consistent power.

What Causes a CV Joint to Go Bad? 

CV joints use metal-on-metal connections packed with grease to transfer motion from one side of the joint to the other. While these components are engineered for exceptional durability, they don’t last forever. Commonly, the joint itself isn’t the first part to fail. Instead, the protective outer boot, typically manufactured from neoprene or specialized plastics, rips or tears due to age, impact, or overextension. 

When the boot tears, water and contaminants can enter the joint, causing premature wear. Additionally, the split can allow grease to escape, leading to rapid wear due to insufficient lubrication. 

While factory CV joints can typically last for 100,000 miles or more, a ripped CV boot can cause even the freshest CV joint to fail in under a month, especially in wet or salty, corrosion-prone climates. 

4 Signs of A Bad CV Joint

Like most wear components, spotting early signs of failure can save you from serious repair bills and severe mechanical damage down the road. If you suspect a failing CV joint, be aware of the following symptoms. 

Clicking While Turning

One of the most noticeable symptoms of a failing CV joint is an audible sound. When turning, especially at low speeds, you may notice a rhythmic clicking or popping sound. If the noise quiets down when you straighten out the wheels, there’s a good chance the CV joint is failing. 

This noise arises from the joint incurring wear, which causes abnormal movement and the resulting sounds. Eventually, the noise will become more pronounced and become noticeable even while driving straight—at this point, your CV joint is a ticking time bomb that needs to be replaced ASAP before complete failure. 

Vibrations While Driving

Another common symptom of a failing CV joint is excessive or unusual vibrations through the floor or steering wheel. As the joint wears, it develops play. As a result, the joint loses balance and wobbles under heavy load, resulting in vibration. 

While other problems, such as poorly balanced tires or bent wheels, can also cause vibrations while driving, they are typically felt at all speeds or at particular highway speeds. By contrast, a bad CV axle most notably vibrates under acceleration. 

Torn CV Boot

While a torn CV boot may be challenging to spot, it’s a sure-fire way to tell that your CV joint is on its way out. The torn boot can lead to contamination and irreparable damage in weeks or even days if not properly addressed. 

To inspect your vehicle’s CV boots, check the inner barrels of the wheels for any signs of grease splatter. Additionally, you can look beneath the car or in the engine compartment for any slung grease, as this may signal a torn CV boot. If you catch this early enough, you can often replace the boot, repack it with grease, and extend the life of the axle. 

Complete Axle Failure

If ignored for too long, the CV axle can fail, causing it to break apart and render the vehicle inoperable. At slow speeds, you may hear a loud pop, followed by a loss of power. At faster or highway speeds, the axle may make additional noise as it whips around beneath the car, potentially damaging other components until the vehicle comes to a stop.  

Can You Drive with a Bad CV Joint? 

Yes, to an extent. If the axle has a freshly torn boot or only clicks on sharp turns, it may be repairable with a simple boot and repack. However, audible clicking while driving straight or heavy vibrations are a sign that immediate action needs to be taken to avoid complete failure.

This being said, driving with a damaged or failing CV joint isn’t recommended. While you may be able to limp your vehicle home, it is recommended that you order a new CV axle or schedule a replacement with a mechanic as soon as possible. 

Shop Replacement CV Joints and Axles

Need to replace your vehicle’s CV axles? Shop RealTruck’s selection of ReadyLift High-Performance axles to find a pair that fits your ride. If we don’t carry a CV axle for your vehicle, check out your local parts store.