CV joint and Drive Axle

Does your vehicle go CLICK-CLICK-CLICK as you turn a sharp corner?  Does the vehicle shake or shudder under acceleration.  Then you may have a bad CV joint, universal joint or drive axle.

On a front wheel drive vehicle, power has to be applied to each front wheel.  Because the engine and transmission sits between the front wheels, the power is delivered to the wheels through 2 drive shafts which connect to the transmission.  (The front of most 4 wheel drive and all wheel drive  vehicles have a similar setup but the wheels connect to the front differential.)  Because the front wheels steer and have to move up and down with bumps, the drive shafts have 2 flex joints, one on each end.  The flex joints are CV joints (short for Constant Velocity universal joints).  They are covered by a rubber cover called a boot.  This keeps the grease in and the dirty out.

The rubber boot eventually cracks open letting the grease on and the dirt in.  Then it's just a matter of time until the CV joint breaks.  At best, you're stuck on the side of the road.  At worse, it's done a lot of damage.  Breaking the transmission is not unheard of.

The boot can be replaced.  The joint can be rebuilt.  But sometimes it's more practical (and less expensive) to replace the whole drive axle with a new unit, which usually comes with a lifetime warranty.

So if you think your vehicle has a bad drive axle or a broken boot, bring your vehicle to Clearview Tire & Auto Service for a correct diagnosis and professional guaranteed repairs which includes our Certified Auto Repair Nationwide Warranty.  We're in Hopkinsville, not far from Ft. Campbell and we've been here since 1952. Most repairs include one year FREE towing and roadside assistance, good 24/7 coast-to-coast.