2001 Grand Caravan makes a clunking noise in the front when turning sharp?

Question

Both side make this noise, but mostly on the left front and usually when backing slowly and turning the wheels sharp to the right.

Answer 1

It is very likely one of your C/V or "Constant Velocity" joints.

Your Caravan is a front wheel drive vehicle and has two what are called "half shafts" to deliver power to the front wheels--one for each side. Built into these half shaft assemblies are four constant velocity joints or C/V joints as they are commonly called, two per side. These joints essentially perform part of the function that the differential performs in a rear wheel drive car--they allow one drive wheel to turn more slowly than the other when you are going around turns. This is necessary, obviously, because the wheel on the outer radius of the turn must travel a greater distance than the one on the inner radius of the turn. If the wheels rotated at the same speed over unequal distances, the tires would scrub the pavement.

Now, when a C/V joint fails its internal bearings begin to sieze as the half shaft is going around a turn, and that siezing makes a thump, thump thump sound. If left long enough it can damage other components, including the transmission.

While I have changed individual C/V joints and it is not terribly difficult to do, it is a little time consuming. These days most often one simply buys an entire half shaft with both C/V joints already installed on it, and swaps out the whole assembly. Although the parts cost more, the amount of labor involved is far less, and if you are paying someone else to do it, the difference in the amount of time involved to perform the repair will just about cover the cost of the parts. Moreover, by replacing both C/V joints at once, it is far less likely you will be redoing anything on that side for some while.

Also, many shops tend to wildly overcharge for the job. They consider C/V joints, like brake and exhaust work, as real profit centers. The fact is that you can buy a rebuilt half-shaft assembly for $80-120 and it really only requires an hour or so to change one out--so each side should cost about $140 to $190 to change if the shop is honest.

By the way, most often the reason a C/V joint fails is that the rubber accordian boot on it wears out or gets torn and the grease inside the joint gets contaminated with dirt from the road causing the bearings inside to wear out prematurely. Likely, if you jack up the van and look underneath you will see these boots on the half shafts and will see splits or tears in the bad one(s) and some accumulation of dirt and grease on the rubber boot.

Answer 2

Sounds like your CV joints are going bad. Get that looked at as soon as possible. If either of the joints break, your Grand Caravan won't be going anywhere for a while and it'll cost more to fix because they'll probably have to replace the drive axles too.

Answer 3

If your van makes this noise only turning one direction (either only right or only left) this is most likely your CV axle. Its usually the one on the side of the direction turned when you hear it. Also its not just one click or clunk but a repeted clunking or clicking.
Most axles run from $55.00 to a little over $100.00 for the part and labor should be around 1-1.5 lbr hrs. per side.

Answer 4

I have to jump off the cv shaft bandwagon, but the more likely problem is the front sway bar end links. They are a repeating problem on all caravans, 96-06. If could be the front sway bar bushings, but they usually get noisy (squeeky) before they get clunky. I would not go to the dealer for those, the mostly plastic ones they sell you are nice and quiet, but wear out quickly. I would find a store that sells moog suspension parts. They have a nice greasable front sway bar link for the caravan. if you grease it, it'll never wear out again.

Here is an ebay item number, this is the best price I could find. It isnt moog, but they are steel and greaseable. - 140015858853

Answer 5

This is a common issue with chrysler mini-vans,it most likely is the sway bar bushings and/or sway bar links,most noticble after sitting for a few hours or in cold weather.

Have your tech inspect these parts,he should be able to give you an answer within 10 minutes.

One other item to check is the axle nut torque,have your tech re-torque the axle nut as this has been known to cause the complaint you discuss.

As suggested by others,it could be the axle itself but i tend to disagree simply because ive seen this problem hundreds of times in the past,to be safe,,have the entire front end checked.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Have the front axles checked. It sounds like you've got a CV joint going out. Don't just replace one, go ahead and replace both if that's the problem.

Answer 7

Have the axle checked. Mine was doing the same thing and they had to grease something in the axles.

Answer 8

Your tyrods are wore out, you need to get them fixed because it could eventually cause you to not be able to steer your vehicle cause a wreck.

Answer 9

the cv joints are worn out......... take it to a reputable mechanic...... waiting will only make things worse