Out of Joint (CV Joint and Boot Replacement)
May 19, 2024
If you have a front-wheel-drive vehicle, it has components called CV joints which enable you to turn your wheels smoothly. The CV stands for “constant velocity.” In essence, it’s a set of gears that connect a shaft that allows power from the transmission to be sent to the wheels. When you turn the wheels, no matter what angle, the input velocity rotation will be equal to the output. Thus, the name, CV (constant velocity) joint. Other vehicles with 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive also use CV joints.
If one of your CV joints isn’t working right, you may find your vehicle difficult to handle. If one breaks, your vehicle may stop moving. So, it’s important that CV joints be in top working condition. The joints need a lot of lubrication, so they are surrounded by grease. There’s a rubber enclosure around them called the boot which holds the grease in and protects CV joints from the elements.
The biggest problems come when one of those rubber boots cracks. Water and dirt can then get into the joint, causing it to wear down and lose all its vital lubrication. It’s important to have your CV joints inspected regularly so a technician can spot cracks before the CV joints are ruined. Sometimes just the boot can be replaced before any major damage is done. But when the joint does go bad, it must be replaced.
Signs your CV joint needs changing out? You might hear a clicking sound when you turn if the CV joint is worn out. You might notice some thick, black grease around your wheel or on the pavement where you park your vehicle. You might also feel your vehicle vibrate when you’re going fast.
If you suspect you might have a bad CV joint, bring your vehicle in so a technician can determine what’s going on. Keep your CV joints in good shape and reduce the risk of them seizing up at an inopportune time so you can avoid being stranded.
Auto Lab Troy
2790 West Maple Rd.
Troy, Michigan 48084
(248) 643-7690
auto-lab-troy.autotipsblog.com
Need Service?
More articles from Auto Lab Troy
Don?t Be Hosed (Radiator Hose Replacement)
January 18, 2026
If you are like most drivers, you dont worry too much about what shape your radiator hoses are in. But they are a vital part of your coolant system, helping carry engine coolant from the hot engine to where it is cooled off in the radiator. When the cooling system has a problem, you will likel... More
Smooth Operator (Shock Absorbers)
January 11, 2026
When you are comfortably headed down the road, you may not realize how many of the imperfections in the driving surface are being smoothed out, so you hardly feel most of them. You can thank your shock absorbers for a lot of that comfort, and its important to make sure you keep your shocks in go... More
What?s That Yellow Squiggly Line Anyway? (What Warning Lights Mean)
January 4, 2026
You may have noticed when you start your vehicle, youll see several symbols light up on the dash. Theyre different colors and shapes, and sometimes its hard to figure out what each of those symbols mean. They are warning lights and symbolize something in your vehicle is sending you a message. I... More