CV joint?

ERU

ERU

ERU

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I had half day today so i've been fixing the car - Megane 1997 (I crashed the van :( ).

It's been making a noise that gets louder as I go faster and sounds like a WW1 fighter plane shooting when I turn on full lock. I thought it was the 'exhausts back box' as it was hanging off - so I replaced it myself today. The cost was £28 versus a £170 quote at the garage!
My problem is the noise is still there - although it's more distinguished now. The back box was obviously 'adding' to the overall din but not the whole problem.

Do you think my problem is a CV joint? Possibly both sides?
It's been making a noise that gets louder as I go faster and sounds like a WW1 fighter plane shooting when I turn on full lock
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I'm thinking of having a go again after work tomorrow but it's looking like £30 per joint and a bitch of a job. I don't want to be in the situation of doing it and finding out it's something like a steering rack. I've had it up on the jack today and when I spin the wheel it seems to have a 'bit of play' when I spin the wheel. Is it dangerous to be driving on screwed CV joints? I drive a lot!
 
If they are making that much noise then it's not really a good idea, since they can affect steering if they lock up. It certainly sounds like a CV joint problem though.
 
Yes it can be quite dangerous, if the cv boot is split, and the joint dries up of grease, it can potentially lock up completely, which wouldn't be nice while driving.

Is it making a knocking noise as you apply power while turning, or is it there all the time?
 
Sounds more wheel bearing to me if it gets louder the faster you go. Especially when you say the wheel has play when jacked up. CV joint will not do this.

Is it louder when turning one way than the opposite way?
 
Doesn't sound like a wheel bearing to me - he said it's most pronounced on full lock and sounds like a WW1 fighter plane shooting - a wheel bearing won't sound anything like that, it's more of a droning noise. A CV joint is a pronounced and rhythmic clicking/clunking noise.

This is the noise of a failing CV joint, imagine it getting slower/faster with the speed of the wheel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPipqmLXnGY

Wheel bearing noise is hard to capture on film but listen at around 25 secs onwards and that's a pretty good capture - almost sounds like a very distant propellor plane "drone"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uu43ruM2G8
 
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Lopéz said:
Doesn't sound like a wheel bearing to me - he said it's most pronounced on full lock and sounds like a WW1 fighter plane shooting - a wheel bearing won't sound anything like that, it's more of a droning noise. A CV joint is a pronounced and rhythmic clicking/clunking noise.

This is the noise of a failing CV joint, imagine it getting slower/faster with the speed of the wheel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPipqmLXnGY

Wheel bearing noise is hard to capture on film but listen at around 25 secs onwards and that's a pretty good capture - almost sounds like a very distant propellor plane "drone"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uu43ruM2G8
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It was just that I have never had a CV joint give play in the wheel when it is jacked up, and personally I have never heard one that gets louder as you drive faster.
 
Entai said:
It was just that I have never had a CV joint give play in the wheel when it is jacked up, and personally I have never heard one that gets louder as you drive faster.
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A CV joint won't cause play in the wheel, unless the hub nut is loose. However, I've never had a wheel bearing make a load clicking noise, as Lopez said they tend to make a droning noise at speed.

A thought has occurred...I suppose the OP has checked that his wheel nuts are tight. Surely?
 
when my outer CV joint went, i had absolutely horrific wheel shake. the noise and the shaking really threw me.
at first i thought it was a badly balanced wheel or gravel build-up on a wheel (possible given all the snow and grit at the time), and it went away after i washed the car.
but then it came back for a few second now and again

i drove on it for another 100 miles or so before it really freaked me out. the thing was totally destroyed :o
 
I don't think it's a wheel bearing as the wheel is solid when I test it, i.e. no play when I shake the wheel. It makes the noise when I spin it tho and more so when it's on full lock. The offside is deffo making more noise.

I've also been to the local motor factors and I have to buy a drive shaft (they don't sell just the CV joint) for a Megane. Check with a garage and they said the same. It costs £57 each side :(
 
ERU said:
I've also been to the local motor factors and I have to buy a drive shaft (they don't sell just the CV joint) for a Megane. Check with a garage and they said the same. It costs £57 each side :(
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This is typical French hatch stuff. They make CV joints out of plasticine, and make them part of the driveshaft so you have to buy the whole thing; Peugeot and Citroen are just the same. £57 doesn't sound bad, but will likely be a reconditioned shaft (if you have to give them your old ones it will be), and then don't tend to last as long IME.
 
The bonus of this is that changing a whole driveshaft is quicker and much less messy than changing the joint on it's own. Unless you spill all the oil out of the diff :D
 
sorry to hijack,

when im turning left in my Avensis i can hear a kind of noise from the front near side wheel, like a knocking noise, could this be CV joint related too?
 
Thanks for the info.

Is a broken CV Joint an MOT fail? (if the boot is ok?)

i will need it sorting but just working on a time frame here, MOT due in June.
 
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