Okay here is my problem, I am going on an about 1,000 mile road trip in less than a week. I've just found out that I may have a bad CV joint or a bad bearing for a strut. I am wondering if driving the car that much with either of those problems is safe?

Here is the exact problem I'm having:

I have a knocking noise when turning. It is less severe when the weather is warm, but in the cold/ damp it gets rather loud. It sounds like the noise the car would make if you knock on it with your fist about 5 times in a row and seems to be coming from the front end. It happens when accelerating into a turn from a stop, and I think I'm starting to hear it when going over bumps. The noise only happens every once in a while, not constantly. Now today for the first time the car seemed to have a weird pulling feeling when driving it, like as if the parking brake was on, it didn't do it earlier today, but just a while ago when I made a quick trip to the store.

This has me worried because if this is a serious problem thats going to need to be fixed soon, I'm not going to have the time or money to do it before my trip and it is not something that can be postponed.

I've had a mechanic look at it several times, he put it up on jack stands and had me put the gas and brake on while turnig to pinpoint the noise, but of coarse the car was silent as can be whenever there is a mechanic around.

He told me that if it's not making the noise enough for him to hear it then it should be fine to take on the trip, but I thought I'd get advise from you guys here.

 

After you turn does the car pull the direction of the turn? If so this would indicate strut bearing. Sounds like it scould be an axle and I would NOT go 1000 miles on a bad axle b/c you are asking for trouble. Either way I'd get it fixed for safety before taht type of trip.

Take your mechanic for a test drive. Also check out the axle's boot covers if they are cracked/broken or worn, this could be indicative that it is the axle. Either way it should only run you $100-$150 for stryt bearings replaced OR a new/rebuilt axle installed.

 

I know the feeling my car does knocks about three times when I take a turn first thing in the morning when it is cold. I had a mechanic take a look at it and of course he drove it around and couldn't get it to make a sound. My car has new CV's so we knew that couldn't be it, so I was thinking the strut bearing but that was also confirmed as OK. If it is only happening while the car is cold you are probably OK, I have would have one more once over before your trip though, Good Luck.

 

The car does not seem to pull in the direction of the turn. Just makes the noise when turning, usually when straitening the wheel back from the turn.

I'm heading over to have him take it for another test drive, also having an O2 sensor replaced today. I've had him look at the axle and the boots and he says they are fine.



This makes me feel a lot better, sounds like my car. I'll see what happens today. My mechanic told me that it's one of those noises that comes when your car has a lot of miles (159,000) and to just get used to it unless it changes or gets worse. *crosses fingers*

Thanks for the Help

 

i have bad cv joints and need to get the axle replaced also. Its only the driver side axle that is really bad but i figured id replace the other one also before it gets worse and while i have the cash to do it. My mechanic is telling me 180 dolllars a side for parts and labor, does that seem ok or is it too much. I feel as if its too much but then again 50 dollars a side seem like too much to me. any ideas on prices
oh yeah i have a feelin he is just gonna give me some used ones off another max, i dont want used ones unless they are remanufactured with new joints.
any suggestions

 

You have great info in the above 3 paragraphs.

#1 - Starts to sound like a bad CV, but the clue here is that it is worst when it's cold, or the first few times you turn. The CV would click no matter what temp it was.

#2 - The noise going over bumps and now a slight pulling. If the bearing is gone, the upper strut mount can move around causing camber or caster to change.

#3 - The mechanic can't find anything when the car is up on the lift! - That is the home run of all clues, suspension noises usually happen when there is a load on it.


You have either a bad upper strut mount or a bad strut bearing. The famous spring pops are heard worse first thing in the morning or when it's colder outside. Next, when things start to come lose up on the top end of the strut assembly, the nosises happen on bumps and torque (gas or braking).

The reason your mechanic can't find it, is when the car is on the lift there is no pressure on these components, thats why everything sounds and seems fine. Put the car back on the ground, the suspension is now compressed and under the load of the vehicle and your noises are present.

You can't see a bad strut bearing unless you take the assembly apart. The upper strut mount you might see move around a bit from up top. Wacth the center strut nut from the engine compartment on the upper mounts while you turn the wheel left and right with the car on the ground. The nut should stay put and not move around at all. If it moves around quite a bit, the upper mount is shot. If you hear the noise but the nut looks like it's pretty firm, then your strut bearing is probably shot. You might need both.

You mechanic would have immediately caught a failing CV joint by what you say he did.

You have a suspension issue gonig on. The only way to really see what happening is to take the strut out and take it apart.

Good luck!

 

Had a front axle replaced recently and it was $9 for a remanufactured one and $90 labor to install. Total was $140+tax. So $180 is in the ballpark but on the higher side. Then again labor by you may be higher too. Here it is $60/hr for mechanical work.

 

My car was making grinding noises, then it started with the knocking as you state. I had the front right wheel bearing replaced, that thing was scored alomst all the way through! About 2 months later the left side started knocking - same thing - Dealer I bought the parts from said it's a common problem on Max's- Not sure, but could a thing to look into -

my $.02

- Tucker

 

Bingo! We came to this conclusion today. I'm happy that it is not the CV/ Axle, (although that would probably be easier to fix) I'm sure it won't be as bad to drive it around with the strut problem for a while as it would the other.- I'll look into the wheel bearing issue too.

Sooo, as for that problem we at least seem to be on the right track to fixing it. As for my other car woes, I will make a seperate post for that, think I may have a ECU problem

But thanks for all your help w/ this issue