Shifting/Cracking noise, CV Joint?

[clean2g]

I have a 97 gsx and I'm getting some sort of cracking/joint shifting noise out of the passenger front wheel. Seeing that it only makes noises when I start moving from a stand still or on large bumps, I'm assuming it's axle related and quite possibly the cv joint. The ACT 2600 doesn't help either because you have to engage it differently than a stock clutch and feels like the axle is gonna bust. Anyone else have an idea on what this could be? I'm going to take off the wheel and inspect on the weekend when I have some time.

[b00stcreep21]

I don't think I've ever seen a bad CV joint that didn't have a torn boot, so start with that. Otherwise, just go over everything in the general area when you have the wheel off

[A//// Guy]

Bad CV joints usually click/make noise while turning. Could be a ball joint, tie rod, or wheel bearing, all possible noise makers when they go bad.

[xveganxcowboyx]

Bad CV joints usually click/make noise while turning. Could be a ball joint, tie rod, or wheel bearing, all possible noise makers when they go bad.


Exactly my thoughts. Jack it up and wiggle the wheel around. Trace the movement back to whatever is bad.

[asshanson]

Did you have the recall done on the ball joints yet? My car never did when I bought it, and about 3 months later it started creaking, etc from the passenger wheel area. I thought it was just a rubber spacer gone bad, turns out a few hundred miles later when I was driving (under 10mph fortunately) the ball joint just broke, causing the axle and lower control arm to break as well when the car fell down on the front passenger tire. Good times.

$500 to get it towed to the closest shop and have the work done. When I got home I had the dealership replace the other (for free of course). After I got the bill, I got Chrysler to reimburse me the $500 :biggrin:

[JET]

Yeah, ball joints would be the first bet. Wheel bearings *usually* start to make a grinding noise. A tie rod end is also a good possibility. Like they said, jack up that wheel and move it back and forth. If it has slop side to side, it is a tie rod end. If it is top to bottom, then a ball joint. If both, it could also be a wheel bearing.

[x-pride]

I don't think I've ever seen a bad CV joint that didn't have a torn boot, so start with that. Otherwise, just go over everything in the general area when you have the wheel off

I totally agree with this also. Mine is beginning to do that and I know it is the ball joint.

[clean2g]

Did you have the recall done on the ball joints yet? My car never did when I bought it, and about 3 months later it started creaking, etc from the passenger wheel area. I thought it was just a rubber spacer gone bad, turns out a few hundred miles later when I was driving (under 10mph fortunately) the ball joint just broke, causing the axle and lower control arm to break as well when the car fell down on the front passenger tire. Good times.

$500 to get it towed to the closest shop and have the work done. When I got home I had the dealership replace the other (for free of course). After I got the bill, I got Chrysler to reimburse me the $500 :biggrin:

Did you have any aftermaket suspension parts on the car when you brought it in? If I have to take it in to replace the ball joint I don't want to hear "aftermarket parts void the recall" or I'll be like :deadhorse: all over their ass. I know the driver's side ball joint was already done by the previous owner, I didn't know the passenger side had a recall too.

[b00stcreep21]

What I meant to say was, I havn't seen a CV joint THAT BAD to make that noise that didn't have a bad boot. Everyone else in here has also put in the common bad apples as far as what your going to be looking for though

[asshanson]

Did you have any aftermaket suspension parts on the car when you brought it in?

I thought both were recalled. Anyway, my car was almost completely stock at the time. I doubt that would void the recall though, it could have gone bad with stock parts anyway.