Driveshafts and CV Joints: Clicking When Turning and Other Signs

What the driveshaft and CV joints do

The driveshaft carries power from the gearbox or differential to the wheel. Because the wheel has to move up and down with the suspension and swing left and right with the steering, each end of the shaft has a flexible joint. On front wheel drive cars these are the CV joints, with the outer one taking the most abuse at full steering lock.

Each joint is packed with grease and sealed inside a rubber boot, often called a gaiter. As long as the gaiter is intact, the joint can last a very long time.

Rear wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles use the same principle, and often have driveshafts or propshafts with their own joints and a differential in the middle. Wear shows up in similar ways, usually as clunks, vibration or noise that follows road speed.

Clicking when turning

A click or knock on tight turns, particularly under power, almost always indicates a worn outer CV joint. It is typically loudest on full lock, such as when manoeuvring into a parking space or at a roundabout exit. It will usually start faintly and get gradually louder.

Do not ignore it. A badly worn joint can eventually break up, and a failed driveshaft can leave you without drive. Having it replaced when the clicking begins is a much more controlled situation than being recovered from the roadside.

If you drive mostly short town journeys with plenty of tight turns, joints get more work than they would on long straight runs. The same goes for potholes, which can jolt the shaft and damage gaiters, so a quick look at the rubber boots when the car is on a ramp is always worthwhile.

Split gaiters and vibration

The most common reason for early CV joint failure is a split or perished gaiter. Once it tears, grease flings out and grit and water get in, and the joint wears quickly. Look behind the front wheels for dark, greasy splatter on the inside of the wheel or the suspension components. Catching a damaged gaiter early can sometimes mean the joint can be re-greased and a new gaiter fitted, though that depends on how much damage has already been done at inspection.

A vibration that appears under acceleration and fades when you lift off often points at an inner CV joint or a worn shaft. Vibration felt through the floor and seats at speed may also be wheel balance, tyres or bearings, so a proper check is needed to separate them.

• Click on full lock: outer CV joint wear
• Grease on the inside of the wheel or arch: split gaiter
• Shudder on acceleration: inner joint or shaft fault
• Clunk when taking up drive: worn joint splines or mountings

Differential and other driveline noises

The differential lets the wheels turn at different speeds in corners. When it wears, it can produce a whine or hum that changes with speed or with accelerating and lifting off, and on some vehicles a clunk when taking up drive. Low or tired differential oil, worn bearings or worn gears can be behind it.

As with gearboxes, these noises can mimic wheel bearing or tyre noise. That is why a road test and lifting the vehicle for a proper inspection are worthwhile before parts are ordered.

MOT relevance and getting it checked

At an MOT, a tester checks driveshaft joints and gaiters as part of the inspection of steering and suspension components. A split gaiter or a worn joint can be recorded as a defect, with the seriousness depending on its condition. For the exact current rules, check the official MOT guidance.

At Banks of the Tyne, we deal with driveshafts, CV joints and differentials, and we can look at a clicking joint or a leaking gaiter and tell you what we find. What a repair involves depends on the vehicle and how much damage has been done.

Frequently asked questions