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View Full Version : CV joint bad?

SBS
03-14-2007, 07:50 PM
Hi,

I have a 2001 Grand am 4 cylinder with 130,000 miles.

A couple months ago I noticed that there is a slight "thump, thump, thump" sound coming from the drivers side front wheel at slow speeds. Its most noticable around 15 mph. As I speed up the sound gets faster until I can't distinguish it anymore.

I moved my wheels/tires around. I also got new brake pads and had the front rotors turned. When I put them back on I switched the left and right sides.

The "thump thump thump" is still there on the driver's side.

I'm guessing that I need to replace the CV joint.

Anybody have any experience with this?

Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Sal
SE2000
03-14-2007, 09:04 PM
Could it be the bearing? They are more common failure
doobiess
03-14-2007, 09:50 PM
when my bearing went it had a constant sound slow and fast speeds and obviously sped up the faster i went

but atm my rear control arm bushing is screwed but i have a head gasket job to do.. and it thumps... all you have to do is turn your wheel all the way to the right and look from the outside of the car does it look like the bushing has popped out? if you think so..

to verify spray a oil\lube on it to soak it if the noise stops thats it but also oil will destroy it.. so if your 90% sure try that worked for me
SBS
03-15-2007, 08:12 AM
Maybe it is the bearing.... the sound is constant when going in a straight line. When I make hard turns I can't really hear it... but that is likely beause the nosie gets very faint at slow speeds.
SBS
03-15-2007, 08:23 PM
Ok.... I got the big nut off of the wheel hub.

How the heck do I get the hub off? I've got the puller from AutoZone but it won't budge....

Thanks,
Sal
SE2000
03-15-2007, 08:26 PM
remove bolts
SBS
03-15-2007, 08:40 PM
Hi SE,

Thanks for your help.

I see that removing the bolts will release the bearing and allow the CV joint and shaft to be removed from the transmission.

The place that I'm stuck at is taking the axle flange off of the shaft. It looks like it (the flange with the lug bolts on it) is pressed on to the shaft. The shaft is splined.

I rented a tool to pull it off of the splined shaft but it won't budge. Do I just need to apply more force?

Thanks,
Sal
SBS
03-15-2007, 08:58 PM
Hmmm... I'm even more confused now.

I have all three bolts off that hold the bearing in and the bearing is pretty well stuck onto the shaft.

How do I get that off?


Thanks,
Sal