Plymouth Grand Voyager (AWD) Front Left Clicking And Wheel Play...Afraid To Drive It But Need To. HELP!!!

Question

Hello All,

I just asked this question, got an answer that made me dig a bit deeper into the problem...so here is the scoop and update.

My van has a horrible clicking sound coming from the right front wheel. It does this only when driving, no matter whether turning or not. Thinking it may be the bearing, I took the tire off, and shook it back and forth with one hand on the top and one on the bottom of the tire. No give at all. Then I rotated the tire, it went around just fine, but when beginning the turning process, it had a easy give, and then clanked. This happens when going back and forth. Clanks going back and clanks going forward, until the end of the play, then the tire will rotate without noise or free play. The play is about 3-4 inches.

Any ideas? I'm scared to death to drive it, but need to in a few hours...all highway miles.

Answer 1

My first "knee jerk reaction" was that it is a constant velocity joint (CV joint).  They clickety-click and clatter when they're going south.

But if you have 3-4 iches of play, J C Whitney, dude, don't drive that puppy another mile.  Get whatever it is repaired.

Answer 2

cv joint going