What is that knocking sound when I turn my wheels?

Question

Anytime I turn the steering wheel, there is a knocking sound coming from my front tires. What could this be?

I drive a '92 Honda Accord.

Answer 1

Your car has two driveshafts that connect the transmission to the wheels. Each driveshaft has two constant velocity joints, two inner CVJ's and two outter CVJ's. Each joint is full of grease and ball bearings and is convered by a rubber "boot" that is flexible and protects the CVJ's from dirt and dust and water and all the other nasty stuff in the road.

The "boot" on the outter CVJ's is the most susceptable to wear and tear damage and will sometimes split open and all the grease flies out and dirt and crud gets inside the CVJ.

Even if the rubber boots are not compromised, the CVJ's will eventually wear out and must be replaced. The standard for this service can be one of two options. Replace the entire driveshaft(s) as a single unit, they sell complete remanufactured "half shafts" or a drive axle with two new CVJ's on it, or you can have just the damaged CVJ replaced. Generally speaking, pulling the "half shaft" is much easier and less expensive than taking off one bad CVJ. All of the CVJ's will have some wear and tear on them and the two outter CVJ's will have the most wear and tear so for the sake of safety and warranty and no future head aches, the whole "half shaft" is the best fix. If both draveshafts have damaged CVJ's then replace them both or at least the one with the worst problem.

What will eventually happen, it's not pretty, is the constant velocity joint (CVJ) will fail and the driveshaft will be flailing about under your car doing all kinds of damage to the brakes and chassis and suspension and motor or transmission.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

It could be bad wheel bearings or bad CV joints. Have it checked by a mechanic. Generally, if it's click click clicking around a turn, it's going to be a CV joint. If it's making a chunking/clanking sound, it may be a wheel bearing, but they generally make the most noise while going in a straight line and the frequency of the sound increases with speed.

Answer 3

Knocking or clunking means that your front drivetrain is worn. If you have front-wheel drive, the driving shafts have joints that get worn out, and kind of slip jerkily when turning corners, and you hear the clunking sound. It may not need replacing right away, but will require service before too long.

Answer 4

it is quite possible that noise is your drive axle telling you it needs some attention. Normally the rubber boots at the joints are filled with grease, when they are damaged or broken whether by age or accident the grease is ejected by the velocity(constant going around), so the bearings go dry and wear excessively causing that funny clicking noise. At that piont after thew noise it is usually best to replace the axle ,with a new or rebuilt unit

Answer 5

cv joints are worn out you can buy the replacment 1/2 shafts at your local parts store
could be a very long walk if one are both brake

Answer 6

Wheel bearing or Constant Velocity joint, get it checked out before they fail, if it is the wheel bearing you could end up dead if it fails completely

Answer 7

most likely your CV Boots, does it only happen when you turn left or right, or both ways. If it only happens in one direction, than that is the side that your CV Boots need to be replaced.

Answer 8

Could be lots of things but if it's happening while moving (not stationary) I would suspect your CV joints:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constant-velocity_joint

Answer 9

it will be a ball joint. like the others said. id have it fixed asap. you need to get an alignment after. if you let it go too long youll be buying tires also

Answer 10

Your Front Axel Is either dameged or broken...good luck