How to Check CV Joints
A CV (constant velocity) joint is a drive shaft that is attached to the transmission on one end and to the wheel on the other end. The transmission turns the CV joint when engaged, which turns the wheels. Each end of the CV joint has a rubber boot that protectively covers a lubricated bearing. Most common repairs to CV joints are due to the failure of the rubber boot. If damaged, the boot will purge the lubricant from the compromised area. Without lubricant, the metal to metal precision-machined bearing will fail.
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Instructions
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Test drive the vehicle. Evidence of CV joint failure is a clicking or crunching sound, primarily when making turns, vibrations that intensify with acceleration, a humming noise which intensifies with the velocity of the tire or an audible and physical clunk when accelerating and decelerating.
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Place the vehicle on the side-by car lift (to suspend the suspension) in neutral gear with the steering wheel unlocked and the engine off.
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Put on the safety glasses and gloves and get a shop light.
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Locate the CV joints. All front-wheel drive vehicles have front CV joints. Some all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles will have CV joints in the front and rear axles.
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Look at the undercarriage of each wheel and knuckle assembly. A compromised CV boot will have purged thick and pasty lubricant grease as the CV joint spins at high velocity. Clear evidence of the the grease will be coating the chassis components near the CV joint.
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Inspect the outer boots located directly behind each wheel for possible cracking or tearing. Use the shop light for better visual aide and spin the tire to inspect the complete circumference of the boot. Manipulate the wheel outward and then inward (with the steering wheel unlocked and the vehicle in neutral, you will be able to do this from under the vehicle) to compress the accordion shaped boot. Carefully inspect the valleys of the accordion boot as this is a likely area of the boot to begin to deteriorate.
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Visually inspect the shaft of the CV joint for physical damage like being bent. This would cause a severe vibration when driving.
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Follow the length of the shaft to the inner CV joint boot where the joint connects to the transmission. Carefully inspect the boots at this junction as well. Some vehicles will have visible inner CV joint shafts. If so, inspect the boots on them as well.
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Tips & Warnings
As long as there is no physical or audible side effects from the CV joints, most likely they're in good shape. If you notice cracking in the boots, you could opt to replace the boot and save the CV joint. Quality full boots require the removal of the CV joint and some people feel if you're going to do that, you might as well replace the CV joint. Split boots are a temporary option and do not require the removal of the shaft. However, they need to be glued to prevent the purging of the bearing lubricant and are often unreliable. Constant velocity shafts are now remanufactured which makes the pricing more affordable.
