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All front wheel drive cars have two drive axles: one axle shaft for each front wheel. A special type of universal joint, called a CONSTANT VELOCITY UNIVERSAL JOINT, or CV JOINT for short, transmitts the power to each wheel, while allowing the wheels to turn from right to left. Another CV joint is on the inner end of each axle shaft: these compensate for the up and down movement of the suspension. The wheel side is called the outer CV Joint and the transaxle side is the inner CV joint.
A CV joint has grease inside of it.. This grease is held in place by CV JOINT BOOTS: rubber coverings which hold the grease in and keep dirt and moisture out.
CV joint boots should be replaced and the grease renewed every 50,000 to 100,000 miles. In addition, road hazards can fly up and tear the rubber CV boot. Once a boot has a tear in it, vital lubrication slings out and dirt and moisture get in the joint. In a matter of only a few weeks or even days THE AXLE CV JOINT IS DESTROYED!!! By the time the CV joint starts a "clicking sound" it's too late!
HOW TO PREVENT THIS?
HOW DOES A BAD CV AXLE SOUND?
A bad axle will make a clicking sound when you turn around a corner, but will be fairly quiet when you're driving straight ahead. A hard to diagnose vibration can also be from a worn CV joint: they don't always make a clicking noise. Check this website for more about CV AXLE FUNDAMENTALS
Get your CV joint axles serviced at the 50,000 mile intervals. Also check your CV boots regularly: if you see a tear, or grease slinging out, get them fixed IMMEDIATELY!