Chrysler Repair: 2001 Town & Country clicking, cv joint, steady speed

Question
I have a 2001 Town & Country that is making a clicking noise in the front end when I brake or when I take off.  The noise sounds like a cracking. It seems to occur when I touch the break pedal or when I begin to take off. I assumed it had to do with they brakes when they engage of disengage.
I have brought it to several mechanics and they have told me it is fixed. However when I drive away the problem is still there.
One mechanic changed the brakes and Rotors, another changed the "control bushings", and the last said they greased the front end.
However, the noise is still there.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated


Answer
Hi Keith,
It is difficult to make a diagnosis based on a verbal description of a sound. Have you had them listen from outside the vehicle as you drive away, and is it localized as to which side is involved? Does it make any difference if the wheels are pointed straight ahead when you brake or take off, as compared to if the wheels were turned to the left or the right? Does it click when you aren't braking or accelerating but just coasting as it were in neutral.
My experience with "clicking" is that often this can be caused by a cv joint that has lost its grease due to longterm seepage around the ends of the boot or due to a frank tear of the boot so that the grease spins out of it. Once there is too little grease the balls/cage interface of the joint will not slides smoothly in the housing and cause a clicking sound. It is usually louder when turning and decel- or accelerating than when going straight at a steady speed. The boot doesn't have to be torn just so long as the grease has leaked out of the joint this clicking can begin. Unfortunately there are 2 boots on each half axle, 4 in all, so you need to examine them for a tear or signs of leakage at either end where they are clamped with a strap-like band. I have had good luck in saving the joint when this happens by either regreasing it if the boot is not torn or replacing the grease and the boot at the same time. It does require removing the half-shaft to do it, so you probably don't want to get into such a repair unless all the other possibilities have been considered and the cv-joints are the only remaining option. But they indeed do "click" which is why I suggest to look at them.
Roland