CV joints problem on 2001 civic

[nisryus]

So for the past few months I have been hearing this clicking sound, like metal clicking on metal, under the driver seat area. Took it to Firestone and described the sound to the mechanics, and without looking under the car they said it was the CV joints being busted. Now when i drive, i only hear the sound every now and then. No such sound when i make turns, just some times going over bumps or even smooth surface road.. some times and not all the times too. They told me I will hear it every time, but since they never look under my car, they just gave me an estimate of $380. I thought if it is the CV joints, wouldn't the clicking sound come from the near the wheels?

I have been just driving it for several months without problems, should i really be worried? Wife got new car and we have traded in her old Corolla.. so i won't be getting a new ride soon. But this is a 2001 Civic and i have already spent thousands to fix it in the last three years due to various issues.

 

[NutBucket]

Eventually the joint will fail completely and leave you stranded on the side of the road. Other than that it is highly unlikely it will damage anything else. So if you don't mind some inconvenience you can just live with the noise until it fails.

 

[nisryus]

Man that would stink if i get stranded on the road, since i work 10 pm to 7 am.

I just searched the internet and most sites mentioned that the clicking would only happens if making a turn. However, when i turn to either right or left, i would never hear clicking sound. This might indicates the problem is not the CV joints..

Could it be bad ball joints? I might take the car to another place just to confirm if it is the CV joints or the ball joints.

 

[NutBucket]

Ball joints don't click. And the thing to remember is that clicking in turns is "typical", not absolute. I do agree with the diagnosis though.

 

[2timer]

If your CV joints are going bad, you would hear clicking as your wheels turn. That's what CV joints do, they provide power to the wheels at all different angles. When they go bad you will hear noise when turning.

 

[Zor Prime]

Put your hand up in there and feel the boots. If you got one cut open you'll have grease on your fingers unless the grease is all gone and it's bone dry. If you can catch a split boot soon enough you can install a boot kit and just keep using the CV in some situations ... used the same pair of CV's on an Odyssey for over 300k miles before by catching split boots before it got out of control.

 

[Zodiark1593]

I'd get that CV joint replaced whenever you have time. Past experience tells me it's not too terribly difficult to do so, and the parts are quite cheap compared to the prospect of being stranded.

Usually, when a CV joint has problems, it's the inner joint (the one connecting it to the tranny), and so the sound would come from that area rather than the actual wheel.

 

[neocpp]

I have an 01 integra and had the same problem. I looked under the car at the suggestion of ATG, and was able to find one of the boots ripped and leaking (in my case they were actually on the outside, near the wheel); they also were able to give diagrams/steps to replace the axle assembly on my own, it wasn't too bad.

I replaced the entire CV axle assembly. Parts were around $70, it took a few hours but I had a hard time getting some things apart (northeastern car...). I hadn't done anything on cars except for basic maintenance like brakes, and it was still pretty doable with the right tools.

EDIT:
Link to my thread (cv joint problems): http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2290847
Generic axle replacement instructions from deadken: http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=34417867&postcount=13

 

[nisryus]

Thanks guys. I am going to jack up the car and look at it to see if it is inner or outer boot. Problem is I don't have much tools, just the few basic ones for oil change, tires .. etc. Wife doesn't want me to spent money one them =/. So i might check with neighbors if they have tools i can borrow.. or just drop it off at a shop.

 

[jaedaliu]

Most repairs only need the same basic tools (wrenches.) Harbor freight will sell you plenty of cheap, chinese-made tools that will get the job done.

Does the noise come and go at certain speeds? If so, it may be the wheel bearing.

 

[NutBucket]

Wheel bearings are more of a drone than a click though.

 

[nisryus]

the noise only comes and goes while driving below 45 MPH. Never happens when turning, just going straight line or over bumps.

*told wife I am going to get some tools, since i usually borrow neighbor's tools and jack whenever i work on the cars, she promptly said no.. QQ

 

[CurseTheSky]

Wheel bearings are more of a drone than a click though.

Or a long, constant grinding noise. They can and do sound worse when turning, but it definitely sounds like grinding, not clicking.

Another thing to consider is badly warped rotors, worn pads, and / or sticking caliper. I had one that would make a grinding noise during and after turning, but didn't squeak or squeal. If it only happens while braking or for a short time after you brake, that's something to look into as well.

 

[Harrod]

the noise only comes and goes while driving below 45 MPH. Never happens when turning, just going straight line or over bumps.

*told wife I am going to get some tools, since i usually borrow neighbor's tools and jack whenever i work on the cars, she promptly said no.. QQ

You really don't need a whole lot of tools to change the cv-joint on that car, you should consider getting a cheap breaker bar from harbor frieght and I think it's a 25 mm socket to break the axle nut loose.

Taking it to a shop still isn't cheap, and the fact is almost anyone can do this repair, and at the end of the day you will have some new tools, where as any money spent at the shop is gone forever.

 

[neocpp]

the noise only comes and goes while driving below 45 MPH. Never happens when turning, just going straight line or over bumps.

*told wife I am going to get some tools, since i usually borrow neighbor's tools and jack whenever i work on the cars, she promptly said no.. QQ

I think you can just buy the tools, do it yourself, and still come out ahead on cost (maybe just barely this time, but future repairs will be easier). You don't have to tell the wife

 

[mmntech]

I think this is a common problem for 7th Gen Civics. I know the CV joint on my driver's side is going. Click is getting worse now. I don't here the sound all the time either. It doesn't look too hard to DIY it. I've done the job though on a much smaller scale than an actual car.

Couple of dumb questions? Keep in mind I'm a noob at this.
-Is a ratchet and tire iron enough or should I be using a torque wrench?
-Is the jack that came with the car good enough or should I get a shop one?
-How much should I be spending on replacement axle kits? I've seen them very widely from a couple hundred to almost $800. What's a good kit to buy?

 

[vshah]

I think this is a common problem for 7th Gen Civics. I know the CV joint on my driver's side is going. Click is getting worse now. I don't here the sound all the time either. It doesn't look too hard to DIY it. I've done the job though on a much smaller scale than an actual car.

Couple of dumb questions? Keep in mind I'm a noob at this.
-Is a ratchet and tire iron enough or should I be using a torque wrench?
-Is the jack that came with the car good enough or should I get a shop one?
-How much should I be spending on replacement axle kits? I've seen them very widely from a couple hundred to almost $800. What's a good kit to buy?

definitely use a torque wrench
definitely do buy proper jack stands. the scissor/spare tire jack is meant for emergencies only, not for working under the car.

 

[NutBucket]

Torque wrench for what? Remove wheel. Remove axle nut. Pop off bottom ball joint. Replace axle and put it back together. Torque wrench if you're a gorilla.

 

[jaedaliu]

Torque wrench for what? Remove wheel. Remove axle nut. Pop off bottom ball joint. Replace axle and put it back together. Torque wrench if you're a gorilla.

Torque wrench so you know that you put it back on right, that it won't vibrate off, and that the next guy that wants to take it off won't have to cut it off.

 

[NutBucket]

I stand by my statement. Besides, what average person has a 120 ft-lb (at least) torque wrench for the axle nut? Plus the axle nut is staked and the ball joint uses a castle nut with a cotter pin. We're not talking about head bolts. No mechanic uses a torque wrench for suspension bits.

 

[mmntech]

definitely use a torque wrench
definitely do buy proper jack stands. the scissor/spare tire jack is meant for emergencies only, not for working under the car.

Yes, jack stands. Got a buddy that has some that said I could borrow them so I'm good.