What is the leading cause of CV joint failure?
CV Joint problems are generally caused by boot failures. The rubber or hard plastic boot around a CV joint is there to keep dirt and water out, and to keep the joint?s vital supply of special grease inside. A loose, cracked, ripped or punctured boot is bad news because it will leak grease and allow outside contaminates to enter the joint. If a leaky boot isn?t discovered and replaced almost immediately, joint failure will usually follow within a few thousand miles. CV joints also wear out as the miles add up. Wear increases tolerances inside the joint which can lead to noise and vibration. The outer joints usually experience more wear than the inner joints because of steering angels they experience. The boots on the outer joints undergo more flexing and are more exposed to road hazards than the inner boots. A classic symptom of a bad outer CV joint is a clicking or popping sound that is heard when turning. A clunk or vibration that is heard or felt when accelerating or changing speeds,
