How long does a CV joint live after the "clicking" starts?

[tsviatko]

I was testing my handbrake today and climbing up and down a steep hill when I heard the dreaded clicking sound coming from the front of the truck.

It happens only when I climb the hill in reverse with the steering wheel on full lock to the right. Driving the same way on a flat surface results in no clicking. So, I guess the left outer CV joint is going bad but I can only feel the symptoms under heavy load now.

The question is how long before the things get really bad? I do moderate offroading just for fun on the weekends. The truck spends the rest of the time on paved roads.

Also, what's the worst thing that could happen? Apparently the joint could fall apart in extreme cases. Can it get stuck though? That'll really mess with my steering.

 

[Ben]

Mine have been clicking for the past few years now and despite driving hard, with front and rear diff locks engaged on 37" tyres I'm yet to break one!

 

[yogi]

I have had several cv joints fail when driving over the years, but never on any form of Toyota.

I have had ones that clicked loudly at every 90 turn in the road and never failed.

I had one that failed in an Opel Vectra (Vauxhall Cavelier) some years ago that had only been clicking slightly for a short space of time. It collapsed abruptly at high speed on a straight wide road, luckily late at night, that locked the front wheel for about a second. It was enough to spin the car at 80mph right out across the road and back onto the verge on my side of the road. Not fun,there was no other traffic so I was just lucky. And it was the cv, because it was changed the following day as the car wasn't wrecked (lucky for me).

Other than that, I had a couple fail on full lock where all that happened was I lost drive and had to get a tow home.

 

[clivehorridge]

Mine have been clicking for the last 2k kms, but it only happens when the CD is in and on severe steering lock So far...

 

[wobbly]

Mine has been waiting to be done for almost 3 years....

 

[Chas]

While playing in the Lincomb woods my 80 got the clicking from Hell which I thought was the CV's but later turned out to be the front diff, worth checking that maybe.

 

[tsviatko]

What mileage have you put on the truck for these three years wobbly?

Chas, that isn't really making things any better How did you find out it was the diff?

 

[Chas]

How did you find out it was the diff?

By slowly driving round in circles with Jon W in front of me listening to it, brave man that Jon.
From inside the cab the noise sounded just like CV's though and only heard on full lock.

 

[clivehorridge]

This is not good news for me either...!

I'll go for CVs I think, and worry about the diff if that doesn't cure the clicking...

 

[wobbly]

About 18,000 miles.

Regarding the front diff worries - the diff on a 90 series is open, do you guys have 80's with locking front diffs by any chance?

Pete

 

[Chas]

Yep, locking diffs Pete.

 

[clivehorridge]

Yep, locking diffs here too.

 

[wobbly]

I suspect that front diff issues on 80's are different to 90's then, as the 90's dont lock up in the same way I doubt they would suffer the same stresses?

As it happens, took the Prado down to the local 4x4 specialists - could we get the cv joint to click? No way. Nor can we find a rumbling bearing!

I'm trying to trace a steering rumble at very low speeds (sub 10mph), so far cant find a thing wrong - they've swapped the two front MT's over as there is some heel/toe wear, which if nothing else will re-smooth the tyres, but that doesnt seem to have changed anything.

Am going to buy a Toyota CV joint (i aleady keep a pattern oone as a spare) just in case, and also a set of koyo front bearings, but all Ive got is a slight rumble, not getting worse, just rumblin'.

Pete

 

[wobbly]

.....and said rumble has been traced to a worn exhaust back-box mount

Saved me a fortune on all the spare bits I was intending to buy, cv joints (genuine), bearings (koyo)....

On saying that, havent priced up Toyota exhaust mounts yet

 

[clivehorridge]

.....and said rumble has been traced to a worn exhaust back-box mount

Saved me a fortune on all the spare bits I was intending to buy, cv joints (genuine), bearings (koyo)....

On saying that, havent priced up Toyota exhaust mounts yet

Just in time Pete, it seems

I'd imagine the zorst will be a much cheaper fix than CVs

 

[wobbly]

'cos that would have been quite frustrating, new bearings and cv joints and noise still there...

Very pleased. Def the problem as well, the mechanic who spotted it has bent the bracket arm to stop it vibrating and now there is a knock as its a bit narrow , but no vibration.