New person needs help diagnosing a noise.

[Wornoutkeyboard]

Hi there.... I hate to be one of those people who read forums but never posts because they don't have much to offer in the way of advice for other people, so I ask in advance for your forgiveness...

About 2 years ago my 99 protege ran out of warrenty (I know... I put a lot of miles on my car...but I bought it for driving) and since then I have decided to try to learn to do all the repairs on it myself (if I can). I was hoping to save $$ from unexpected repair costs...but realistically I think I have put more money into tools than it would have cost me to hire a mechanic....but hell... at least now I have the tools and those won't lie to me or break something on purpose to jack up the cost of repair.

I digress...

My biggest problem when working on my car has been in diagnosing problems. I have no problem doing routine repairs (even though the only manual I can seem to get is for a model year older than my car...but thats what the internet is for I guess). Anyhow... about 2 weeks ago, when I go to make a sharp left hand turn (only sharp turns) I hear "thunk" noise coming from my right wheel area. The car's performance doesn't seem to be affected, the car doesn't shimmy or rattle or click but two of my friends said it sounds like the CV axle, yet all the descriptions I can see about CV axle problems seem to involve a shimmy, a rattle or a click noise. This is just one "thunk" and only on sharp turns and very distinctly from the right front wheel area.

I looked up instructions for replacing the CV axle and I'm sure it is something I can do (hell...after replacing my throwout bearing I feel like I can do just about anything at this point). I was just wondering before I spent the $$ on it (not to mention time)...does the diagnosis sound right?

Thanks in advance for any help you may have to offer.

~WOK

[mypfizzle]

hello.. welcome..
it could be a control arm that is bent. .have you hit anything? pothole? curb? cd sounds about right. have you looked to see if there is anygrease leaking around there? that is a good sign that you ar ehitting metal on metal.

[mypfizzle]

sorry that didnt make sense.
if u have no grease leaks or ruptures it could be a control arm. if u are leaking something its prolly the cv.. -=)
hope that makes more sense.

[Wornoutkeyboard]

Wow...thanks... that was quick. I checked first for leakage and looked at the boot to see if it appears torn (neither seems to be the case)...but I often park in the street and wouldn't see any leakage going onto the street unless it was major or a colored fluid or it was apparent at the source, so perhaps there is some leakage I am not detecting.

My brother in law mentioned something about a "constant velocity joint" (he is a mechanic but doesn't like to help me with repairs since I am a girl...don't ask me). I did a search for it and I can't find any mention of it. Maybe you would know what the hell that is because it is entirely possible I am looking for it wrong.

If it is the control arm, as you suggested, would there be anything else I should check for to make sure I am repairing the right thing and not potentially F8king up my car worse by touching it ( hasn't happened yet... but bound to happen sooner or later).

Thanks again.

~WOK

[mypfizzle]

hmM.
control arm u would have had to hit something to bend it.. pothole.. curb.. something.they dont just got bad.. when u hear the clunk does it make the car shake at all? does the car shake at high speeds?
have you tried tightening all your lug nuts to make sure none have backed out?
the grease from inside would be a thick black nasty goo.. and u kno it when u see it. plus it would be all over the place.. push on the boot and see if it has anything in it. i have never looked at our cvs. but i kno on hondas they use hoseclamps.. maybe a clamp came off?

[mypfizzle]

constant velocity joint - i dont kno what that is. -=\

[Wornoutkeyboard]

It could be the control arm... I live in an area where the roads aren't that well maintained and there are about a million pot-holes all over the places and uneven roads. If it is the control arm... is this something likely to get worse or cause other damage? On like a 1-5 sace (1 being easy) how hard do you think to fix? Thanks again...

~WOK

[mypfizzle]

control arm is pretty easy. only a few bolts.. do your self a favor.. buy one from a recycler if u have one in your area. they dont go bad unless u bend em -=)
i give it a 3 on the hard scale.. rite in the middle. i dont know if they call it a control arm on our car. but its the same thing. ull see it..have u taken your wheel off too look yet?

[njaremka]

Constant Velocity Joint = CV Joint (there is no CV axel) This is the part with the boot around it.

If there is only one "clunk", I would tend to think it was bushing or strut or spring related. The only way to know for sure, is to have a trusted mechanic hear the noise, or start pulling stuff apart or making sure all the bolts down there are torqued properly.

If it was your CV joint, it would click each time the axel turned and only when you are turning, regardless of how sharp of a turn.

Have you had an alignment recently? Had your rims off and back on?

[Wornoutkeyboard]

Constant velocity joint= CV joint..... see.... that is how my brother in law is... he tells me things in the most complicated way possible to try to deter me from working on it myself (dunno why... yet to f anything up yet).

I did take a look and the passenger side control arm is bent, so I suppose that would be a good place to start. I suppose after replacing it, if it still makes the noise I'll look for other things (since that seems to need replacement anyway).

The last time my car had an alignment was like 40K mi ago (about 2 years) and since then I have made a cross country move.

As for the trusted mechanic thing.... I recently moved cross country and have no mechanic here I know and trust so all I can really do is call my BIL and hope he feels in the mood to help me out.

Thanks for all the help!

~WOK

[Gbourdon]

You may be able to find a knowledgeabl forum member in your area who is willing to take a look at your car for you also. Perhaps they may know a reputable shop in the area as well.

[mypfizzle]

"Anyhow... about 2 weeks ago, when I go to make a sharp left hand turn (only sharp turns) I hear "thunk" noise coming from my right wheel area. "

if it was a shock or spring issue it wouldnt only be during sharp left turns.. a control arm would.. a cv would be anytime u turn depending how much the boot has deteriorated and how much grease u have lost -=)

[Wornoutkeyboard]

I found the control arm and I am picking it up today. I'm now crossing my fingers.....

Thanks again!
~WOK

PS~ If anyone does know of a good mechanic in the Tampa Bay area.... lemme know. Always nice to have an emergency plan.