Anyway to "test" cv axle and/or ball joint

[Tucson4runner]

Hey guys as of a couple weeks ago I've had some popping sounds on the driver side when I make left turns. When it first started it was getting worse everyday and I thought it was the cv axle. After the first week it practically went away and now I hear popping when I go over speed bumps and occasionally on turns. Is there anyway I can test the axle or the joint so I know exactly what needs to be replaced? I grabbed the cv axle and tried moving it by hand but it wouldn't budge. I read a few threads but no specific help. Thanks guys.

 

[puppetz007]

Have you looked at the sway bar end links on the driver side? My subaru was making clunks and popping sounds when I turned left and the driver side end link was broken. Just a thought.

 

[Tucson4runner]

Have you looked at the sway bar end links on the driver side? My subaru was making clunks and popping sounds when I turned left and the driver side end link was broken. Just a thought.

I removed both sway bars few months ago so that's not it. I broke one on a trail ride and decided to just trash em both.

 

[nevada]

jack it up, grab the tire top, and bottom. and try to move it.
also, side to side. check for any free play. this is for the balljoints, and tie rod ends.

generally the axles are fine, if the boots are intact. its rare, but ive seen it happen where a joint goes bad, while the boot is still good.

also, a bad axle will be a constant popping, think popcorn, or machine gun while turning. not just once or twice. thats usually suspension.

 

[Tucson4runner]

jack it up, grab the tire top, and bottom. and try to move it.
also, side to side. check for any free play. this is for the balljoints, and tie rod ends.

generally the axles are fine, if the boots are intact. its rare, but ive seen it happen where a joint goes bad, while the boot is still good.

also, a bad axle will be a constant popping, think popcorn, or machine gun while turning. not just once or twice. thats usually suspension.

I'll try that when I get home thanks. Oh and to make things mote complicated, boots tore when I did lift so I replaced them. So cv could be bad but boot is new.

 

[Tucson4runner]

Also where should I jack up from? I usually jack up the lower a arm but I think that would interfere with the ball joint test right? I'm lifted 3" upfront so I don't know where else I could lift it from.

 

[nevada]

at the lower arm should work.

 

[JohnsD90]

If you have play inches you grab the tire and move it then it is probably the hubs/front wheel bearings, especially of you see the ball joint and tie rod's don't have any play.

 

[Tucson4runner]

Alright guys I'm under here right now. The wheel has slight play when I shake from side to side but no play when I shake from top and bottom. Anything I should be looking for while its up? Here's a pic

I'll leave it jacked up for a bit hopefully someone can help soon. Thanks again guys.

 

[Tucson4runner]

Just thinking out loud. Could the slight back and forth play be the slack in steering lock? It probably has maybe a 1/4" of play.

 

[fish0281]

I've got similar problems - it makes a metal-on-metal clunk when I go over bumps, particularly if it's a drop (wheel deflects downwards)... I also have some play side-to-side when I do this test and I'm pretty sure it's the inner tie rods. As I understand it, it should be tight, but I'm not certain so I'd like to know as well.

CV's tend to make a whole lot of noise when turning (not just a single clunk), so I think it's safe to rule that out.

 

[Tucson4runner]

Well see at first it was constant popping on turns. To leave my parking space at work I have to turn the wheel all the way to the left. When I did this I would hear constant popping. Like I was running over bubble wrap. I was also getting the clunk sound over speed bumps. Now the popping sound has gone from every left turn to maybe 1 or 2 left turns a day. And the clunk is almost Everytime I go over something still.

 

[steezemcqueen]

check to see if the upper ball joint is hitting the spring

 

[Tucson4runner]

check to see if the upper ball joint is hitting the spring

Nope no contact....

 

[spitvenom]

lower the truck and and remove the steering rack driver side boot that covers the inner tie rod end on the drivers side. now stay under and look at the shaft coming from the rack on the rack and have someone turn the steering wheel left and right, if that shaft rocks up and down or side to side you need a new rack and pinion guide and everytime you hit bumps the wheel forces that shaft up and down or side to side and you get poping or clunking on bumps etc. 90% of 4runners ive worked on have this issue.

 

[Tucson4runner]

lower the truck and and remove the steering rack driver side boot that covers the inner tie rod end on the drivers side. now stay under and look at the shaft coming from the rack on the rack and have someone turn the steering wheel left and right, if that shaft rocks up and down or side to side you need a new rack and pinion guide and everytime you hit bumps the wheel forces that shaft up and down or side to side and you get poping or clunking on bumps etc. 90% of 4runners ive worked on have this issue.

Got a pic of what I should be looking at? I'm a newb when it comes to this stuff. I'm learning as I go. Thanks.

 

[Tucson4runner]

Small update. No popping or clunking these past 2 days. Is it normal for the cv axle to make popping noises then just stop? I even did 2 full rotations forwards and backwards yesterday to see of it would come back. Nothing.

 

[nevada]

Small update. No popping or clunking these past 2 days. Is it normal for the cv axle to make popping noises then just stop? I even did 2 full rotations forwards and backwards yesterday to see of it would come back. Nothing.

no, a bad CV is pretty obvious. its a constant sound while turning, and will do it just about everytime you turn. not always to both directions, but as it gets worse, it will.

i dont think the noise you're hearing is coming from an axle.

 

[Tucson4runner]

no, a bad CV is pretty obvious. its a constant sound while turning, and will do it just about everytime you turn. not always to both directions, but as it gets worse, it will.

i dont think the noise you're hearing is coming from an axle.

Well I guess that could be good news.

 

[Jasonazx]

I am having something similiar. It's faint right now, but I would like to catch it before it gets worse. Anxiously awaiting the results!