Question re. CV joint..

arybvtcw0eolkf

Had my mechanic look at my car yesterday, and I need a new left CV joint.

When I collected the car the mechanic was gone, and never left instructions as to whether I can drive the car or not (I'll ring him later).

I'm off work today, but I'm wondering. Is it safe to drive the car this morning?.

Basically, when I drive. And particularly when I'm turning right the it sounds like I'm dragging a barrel of rocks around with me!.

biko

Noise from wheel when turning is a classic CV joint tell-tale. The noise comes from metal touching metal where there should be grease protecting the parts. That grease has gone and the metal parts are now free to grind at each other when you turn.

You can continue to drive with a CV joint messed up. You're not doing yourself any favours as the driving will slowly mess the joint up more but I suspect the mechanic will want to swap the joint rather than re-grease it if the noise is that bad.

0verblood

Yeah you can still drive it if it's not making too much of a racket, just don't go speeding around corners and ramping over hills and you'll be OK.

arybvtcw0eolkf

biko wrote: »

Noise from wheel when turning is a classic CV joint tell-tale. The noise comes from metal touching metal where there should be grease protecting the parts. That grease has gone and the metal parts are now free to grind at each other when you turn.

You can continue to drive with a CV joint messed up. You're not doing yourself any favours as the driving will slowly mess the joint up more but I suspect the mechanic will want to swap the joint rather than re-grease it if the noise is that bad.

Yup, just been onto him. Both CV joints need replacing

And I've a problem with my turbo too. Its been making a blowing/hissing sound. He says its blowing oil out, but he says I'm best going to someone else for the turbo.. sigh I need all this like a hole in the head.

biko

biko wrote: »

Noise from wheel when turning is a classic CV joint tell-tale. The noise comes from metal touching metal where there should be grease protecting the parts. That grease has gone and the metal parts are now free to grind at each other when you turn.

If that was true greasing the joint would make all well again, it's not and it doesn't. Worn CV joints make noise, wear is caused predominantly by the boot breaking and the grease being flung off. Get a new joint, don't grease it, install it and there'll be no noise until the joint wears.

OP, you can drive for thousands of miles no bother.

cormac_byrne

RoverJames wrote: »

OP, you can drive for thousands of miles no bother.

but it will eventually break, probably when the wheels are at full lock.

e.g. turning at a junction

HINT: Hearing the ball bearings falling out and bouncing on the underside is a clue it's about to go

biko

RoverJames wrote: »

Worn CV joints make noise, wear is caused predominantly by the boot breaking and the grease being flung off.

Aye, this is what I meant by grease is gone.

I was actually driving around with a boot in two parts for a while but a new boot and some grease sorted it, fortunately it hadn't started making any noise.
Could have been costly instead of price for just a boot.

biko

biko wrote: »

Aye, this is what I meant by grease is gone.

I was actually driving around with a boot in two parts for a while but a new boot and some grease sorted it, fortunately it hadn't started making any noise.
Could have been costly instead of price for just a boot.

Yep, well worth having a peak at the CV boots every month or so, stitch in time and all that. A CV boot is a fairly rotten job for a DIYer at home but a garage will do one for €60 which is a lot better than a CV joint.

biko

Maybe you know RoverJames, I read somewhere about a CV boot that kinda had a zip or something so after cutting away the old boot you could wrap this boot around and "zip it up" therefore you don't have to remove the shaft etc?

Edit, found it. It's called a splitboot

Never saw them before, or new they existed, cheers for that. I used to work in a factors and we sold crappy ones that were glued once in place, them ones you mention look a good job that may well stay together. Defo better than giving someone €60