CV Joints: The Clicking Noise on Tight Turns
A rhythmic clicking or knocking noise on tight turns at low speed is the classic sign of a worn outer CV joint, common on front-wheel-drive cars. The usual cause is a split CV boot that has let the grease out and dirt and water in. Catching a split boot early can save the joint; a worn-out joint needs replacing.
What CV joints do
CV (constant velocity) joints are part of the driveshafts that send power from the gearbox to the driven wheels. They allow the shaft to transmit drive smoothly while the wheels move up and down with the suspension and, at the front, turn for steering.
The outer CV joints in particular work hard, flexing through a wide angle every time you steer. They are packed with grease and protected by a rubber boot, and they are a common wear item, especially on front-wheel-drive cars.
The clicking on turns
The hallmark of a worn outer CV joint is a rhythmic clicking or knocking that you hear on tight turns at low speed, such as manoeuvring in a car park or pulling out of a junction with full steering lock.
The click speeds up as you go faster and is usually loudest on full lock. It often gets worse over time and may be more noticeable turning one way than the other. Once you have heard it, the speed-and-lock-linked clicking is fairly distinctive.
The split boot is the real cause
CV joints rarely just wear out on their own; the usual cause is a failed CV boot. This rubber cover holds the grease in and keeps dirt and water out. When it splits (from age, perishing or debris), the grease is flung out and grit and moisture get in.
Starved of grease and contaminated, the joint then wears quickly and starts to click. That is why a split boot spotted early is such an important catch: re-booting and re-greasing the joint before it wears can save the whole, more expensive part.
Why catching it early matters
This is the key practical point. A split CV boot found before the joint has worn can often be dealt with relatively cheaply by replacing the boot and grease. But once the joint itself is worn and clicking, it needs replacing, which is a bigger job.
So a torn CV boot, often spotted during a service or MOT as an advisory, is worth acting on promptly. Leaving it lets a cheap boot repair turn into a full joint or driveshaft replacement, and CV boots are checked at the MOT.
What happens if you ignore it
A clicking CV joint will continue to deteriorate, and a badly worn or failed joint can eventually stop transmitting drive, potentially leaving the car undriveable, sometimes without much warning.
While it usually clicks for a while before that point, it is not something to ignore indefinitely. Acting while it is still just clicking, rather than waiting for a failure, keeps you mobile and avoids a roadside breakdown.
Getting it checked
If you hear a clicking on tight, slow turns, or a service or MOT has flagged a split CV boot, have it looked at. We can inspect the CV boots and joints, confirm the cause, and either replace a split boot before the joint wears or fit a new joint or driveshaft if it is already worn.
Catching it at the boot stage is much the cheaper option, so it pays to act on that clicking or advisory promptly as part of keeping the car reliable and roadworthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a clicking noise on turns mean?
A rhythmic clicking or knocking on tight turns at low speed, loudest on full lock, is the classic sign of a worn outer CV joint, common on front-wheel-drive cars. It usually stems from a split CV boot that has let the grease out and dirt in, causing the joint to wear and click.
What causes a CV joint to wear out?
Usually a failed CV boot, the rubber cover that holds grease in and keeps dirt and water out. When it splits with age or debris, the grease is flung out and grit gets in, so the joint wears quickly and clicks. Catching the split boot early can save the joint.
Can a split CV boot be repaired before the joint fails?
Often yes, and this is why catching it early matters. A split boot found before the joint has worn can usually be dealt with relatively cheaply by replacing the boot and re-greasing. Once the joint itself is clicking it needs replacing, which is a bigger job, so act on a torn boot promptly.
Is it safe to drive with a clicking CV joint?
It usually clicks for a while before failing, but it will keep deteriorating, and a badly worn joint can eventually stop transmitting drive and leave the car undriveable, sometimes without much warning. So have it checked and fixed reasonably promptly rather than ignoring it.
Why do CV boots get checked at the MOT?
Because a split CV boot leads to a worn CV joint, which affects how the car drives and its reliability, the boots' condition is checked at the MOT and a torn one is flagged. Acting on that advisory promptly lets a cheap boot repair prevent a much costlier joint or driveshaft replacement.
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Hero image: “Cars I Have Owned: 1997 Geo Tracker 4x4 Pictured in 1997, 1.6L 4-Cylinder Engine, Great Off-Road & Snow Capability” by France1978 (source), licensed under CC BY.