Toyota Repair: Clicking Half Shafts - How Long, cv joints, long term investment

Question
QUESTION: Hi Ted.

In February 2006 I had the original half shafts on my 1995 Camry changed at 131K miles because the rubber boots on the CV joints were both broken and all the lubricant leaked out. I think the boots were broken for three months or more during the winter time before I actually noticed the problem.

Since there was not a lot of difference in price for labor or parts to replace just the boots vs the entire half shafts. I thought I would make a long term investment in keeping the Camry running by replacing the half shafts instead of just the boots.

Meineke installed A1 Cardones on both half shafts in Feb of 2006. In October of 2007, I noticed a clicking sound in the front end as I watched a person drive my car away while taking a right turn. Upon further checking right and left turns lead to clicking. I could not hear the clicking inside the car.

Now it is Jan of 2009. I hear the clicking sound when doing a sharp turn to the right or left in a parking lot. I can also hear the clicking sound in the car with the windows up. I do not hear the clicking sound while doing highway driving around a curve.

How long can I drive the car with the half shafts clicking like this? What dangers are there in driving the car with the half shafts clicking? What other damage can happen to the car from driving with these clicking half shafts?

Many Thanks!

ANSWER: It's hard to say how long it can be driven like this, the noise will get louder over time and eventually the joint may break or seize but bfore that happens the noise will be very loud and there may be a vibration as well.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Ted,

Thank you for your reply. I have noticed that in the past year the clicking sound is getting noticeably louder when doing a sharp turn at about 45 to 90 degrees in a parking lot.

When you say that the sound will become very loud, does that mean I will also hear the clicking sound driving at highway speeds on a curve too or just very loud in a parking lot?

Before the joints seize or break, what signs will the joints give me when driving forward?

I appreciate your assistance, Ted!

Sincerely,

Mike

PS:
I have noticed in the morning when it is real cold as in below freezing, the front end feels like a tire is out of balance and there is a bump in the tread. When tires warm up, that feel in the front end disappears. Not sure if that is related to the half shaft joints?

I know my front struts are weak.


Answer
The cv joints normally do not make any noise until lateral loading such as a turn is applied, in some case the inner cv joints can cause a vibration at highway speeds if they become worn, the clicking noise when turning is always associated with the outer cv joint failure.