How do i tell if i have a bad cv joint?
 

So last week off roading i noticed a when in 4 hi or low i was getting a kinda of clunk in the front end that would pulse back to the pedal. I went 2wd the rest of the trip and had no problems even driving back for 75 miles on the highway. I went underneath the truck and checked the cv seeing if i could turn them or had any play. Didnt notice a thing. Then i started slidding the cvs left to right from the hub to the axle and noticed a decent amout of slap on the passenger side. It sounded more in the pumkin tho. Is this due to the cv being warn inside the rubber boot? I never had this problem before but i am running 35 with a slight tcrank for the past 40k. Any ideas?

Pulsating in the pedal would come from warped brake rotors, maybe even the steering wheel.

Clunking in the front is symptom of a bad ball joint tie rod end or you may broken a sway bar end link.

The CV's simlpe slide in and out to remove and install. There is a locking clip that helps keep it in place. So it moving is normal.


40k on 35's not to mention how many ever miles before that. I would be willing to guess your wheel bearings are toast along with upper/lower ball joints and at least outer tie rod ends.

CVs make a creaky grinding noise when worn.

As Blhde said on the rest everything has its noise.

Drive the truck with the window down and listen for the noise.

I'm with him.
I'l willing to bet your bearings are toast.

Wirelessly posted

Thanks for the insight guys

im having a similar problem i have a grown or howl only at 30-40 then after 40 it goes away it doesnt matter if im in gear or coast its only the that exact speed and im stumped wheel bearings in my experience usually make a consistant if not louder sound the faster you go and when i jacked my truck up and check the wheel play it was tight and seemed good the cv axle boots look too be in awesome shape and it has new ball joints and tie rod ends and tires . so im just stumped im thinking of removing the cvs and putting a rag in the diff and just driving up the road at 30-40 and if the noise goes away that would narrow it down to transfer case - cv but i just dont see what it could be my truck has 91xxx on it any ideas??

I had this and it was because my tires had started scalloping on the inside edge. They were quiet except around 35. I think it was because my shocks were toast, but I may need an alignment or ball joints too.

Same here
 

Did you every figure out what it was? I replaced my ball joints, sway bar end links, control arms, and wheel bearings and it is still doing it. Tires have been swapped to winter tires and no change. I did go with cheaper wheel bearings but it is constant and doesnt go away when you turn one way or the other like it does with a bad one.