Chrysler Repair: noise in right front wheel, wheel hub, cv joint

Question
when I make a sharp turn with acceleration I hear a noise like a chain being pulled through something in my right front wheel. I can't really feel anything. But, where my engine use to be so quiet I could not tell if the car was even running, it is now very noticeable, not a knocking or anything, just loud. I doubt the two have anything in common. Someone had mentioned a "joint" in my front wheel that needs replacing.

Answer
Hi Theresa,
Yes a grinding sound when you are turning and accelerating is the sound from the flexible joint that connects the wheel hub to the drive axle, called the cv-joint. It is greased, and the grease is held in place by a flexible rubber covering caller a "boot". The boot wears out and cracks (normal wear and tear), allowing the grease to spin out of the joint and then it starts to make noise for lack of lubrication. You may be able to save the cost of a new joint (or alternatively a new entire half-shaft (which is the axle with one cv-joint on each end)) by removing the half shaft and regreasing the joint and installing a new boot. That would be a possibility if you haven't gone too many miles without grease in the joint. So if you are going to go that route I would do it promptly. If you don't do anything the joint will ultimately fail so don't wait that long. I would talk to a mechanically inclined person or an independent shop about doing either the boot replacement, the joint replacement, or half axle replacement. Depending upon the car, the relative price of those three approaches will depend upon the cost of the parts and the labor. The boot is only about $15, the half shaft is probably around $200, but in either case the half axle has to be removed to do the job, which probably is about an hour if the person is skilled, maybe two hours if an amateur. Tell me the make, model, year and I can xerox and postal mail you the pages that show the job.
Roland

Thank you so much! It is a 1999 sebring jxi convertible. I am not sure about engine size. Should I be concerned that the engine is sounding so much louder than when I first got the car. Not knocking or really ticking, although I may hear a slight tic...., anyway, just engine noise overall is louder.


The cv-joint could be 'rumbling', but much less when you are in motion but not turning, so that could be the sound source too. Otherwise, you may have to have a friend or mechanic just check it over for the source of the sound. But do the joint first and then worry about the sound if it persists.
Thanks for the rating and evaluation.