Chrysler Repair: Clicking noice when accelerating, cv joint, constant velocity

Question
I own a '91 LeBaron and when accelerating fast I hear a clicking noise from the front part of the car. Sounds like something gives at the wheel.

Any ideas?

Thank you,

Answer
Hi Michael
That is typically the sound of a constant velocity (cv) joint that has run dry of grease because the rubber boot that holds in the grease has cracked and allowed the grease to spin out. It will also often be heard while the steering wheel is turned for a left or right turn which requires the maximum flexing of the joint.
If it has just started you may be able to "save" the joint by removing the half shaft, disassembling he joint, and then with a boot kit that comes with replacement grease repack the joint and put on a new boot. That costs about $15. The alternative is to trade-in the half shaft (one cv joint on each end) for a rebuilt one, which is in the $100 range, I believe.
Whoever removes the halfshaft, if the damaged boot is on the right (passenger) side of the car, check the top of the transaxle housing extension (the structure into which the half shafts are inserted) for the presence of an electrical connector and a single bolt that holds in place a gear driven "distance sensor" that provides the signal for the speedo/odometer. That sensor should be removed before extracting the half shaft from the housing. If the half shaft is extracted forcefully without first removing that sensor the gear on the sensor will be damaged, otherwise.
However, in around '92 that sensor was dispensed with on the cars with the 3.0L engine and electronic 4-speed automatic transmission. But I believe the '91 models with that powertrain still had such a sensor as did all four cylinder models.
Roland