Anyone who drives a front wheel or an all wheel drive automobile should be familiar with the function of CV (constant velocity) Joints. Their function is to provide power transfer to the front wheels as well as to allow for steering and suspension movement.
Packed in grease and protected with rubber boots, the CV joints should be regularly inspected for leaks and cracks. In the event that the boots deteriorate and begin to leak grease, they will splatter grease on the inside of the wheel and on the suspension. Evidence of this splattering will not be obvious from the outside of the vehicle and must be viewed from underneath.
For this reason, it is a good idea to have the CV joints inspected at every oil change or 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Replacing a boot immediately after a leak or crack is found costs a fraction of what it would otherwise cost to replace a CV joint or a complete drive axle. If you hear a repetitive knocking or grinding noise from your car the likelihood is that something is wrong with your CV joints, brakes, or wheels. The sound of popping or clicking noises when turning or a clunk while accelerating may be indicative of the need of a new CV joint in a front wheel drive car.
