clicking noise - driveshaft or CV?

[tataylor]

Hi all, wonder if anyone can help me with a clicking type noise coming from under ze xsara.

This noise seems to happen once per wheel rotation. Only with the front right wheel. At high speed the steering wheel vibrates but the clicking noise is not so audible although is still there. At low speeds the clicking is louder and becomes more of a clunking noise. This is worse when turning the steering wheel left or right and also rolling off full lock.

There?s nothing catching on the wheels anywhere. No loose bolts or stones etc. I got underneath the car and while spinning that wheel tracked the noise down to what I think is the driveshaft? Working from the wheel inwards, the pole that the wheel hub is attached to, its the first joint that you meet. It?s a rubber gaited joint which I?m guessing is full of bearings in a cage. There is no visible damage to this, no leaks or splits. I?m guessing things have slipped or worn inside. I also want to throw CV joint in there as a possibility?

Appreciate any advice. Cheers.

[The Wrinkly Ninja]

That is the CV joint, and yes, that is probably the source of the clonks.

[tataylor]

Okay thanks. Will it be a case of disassembling it and regreasing?  Or, as the gaiter isnt split or damaged, will a bearing have gone inside? Think I?ll have to visit a garage, doesn?t look like something I could sort. 50 - 60 quid you reckon?

[The Wrinkly Ninja]

New joint - and I haven't a clue. If you get it done for 50/60 I'd be amazed.

Joint itself seems to be selling on Ebay for 15-25 quid or so, and the whole shaft and intermediate bearing has to be pulled from the diff, repaired then replaced and the oil refilled.

[tataylor]

okay i'll see what i can get done for it. thanks a lot!

[tataylor]

found a post from johnboy, incase anyone finds this first.

http://www.cxoc.net/index.php?topic=7765.0

[The Wrinkly Ninja]

Helpful, but you're after offside, so there's the intermediate bearing to deal with as well.

[tataylor]

ha! my getting the right side of the car first would be a good start...  a booking for the garage it is then.

[tataylor]

Scratch that I'm going to have a stab at it myself since Citroen garage have quoted me ?350 to fix it.  I told him that I'd found replacement cv joints for way less than that online and I reckon a pro mechanic would fit it in an hour, at say ?60 an hour rate. I was told that Citroen don't make just replacement cv joints and they'd have to replace the whole drive shaft.

Anyone have any experience in this at all? What's the worst that can happen if I keep driving on it, in granny mode?

Cheers

[The Wrinkly Ninja]

It falls apart and drops to the floor. Depending what separates, could end up jamming into almost anything. Probably be OK for a wee while.

No Citroen don't make the joints - everyone else does tho'.

Have a word with the old lags who regularly pull their cars apart - john boy and Joe spring to mind immediately.

[mike w 84]

New joint - and I haven't a clue. If you get it done for 50/60 I'd be amazed.

Joint itself seems to be selling on Ebay for 15-25 quid or so, and the whole shaft and intermediate bearing has to be pulled from the diff, repaired then replaced and the oil refilled.

can be done without removeing the shaft from the diff also leaving the intermediate bearing alone
,just the bottom ball joint and hub nut need undoing 

[tataylor]

Any special tools required? Iv got a standard tool kit, sockets, bits etc. Making it sound suspiciously easy...

[mike w 84]

36mm socket for the hub nut,16mm or 17mm spaner and socket 

[Captain Joe]

i have a NS driveshaft from a 1.8 VTR if anyone wants it. bought in error    that's about the most input you'll get from me, i can gladly say i've never had the misfortune to have to replace an OS one but i imagine it's not THAT hard, as in not a ?350 job, robbing gits 

[DG cruiser]

can be done without removeing the shaft from the diff also leaving the intermediate bearing alone
,just the bottom ball joint and hub nut need undoing 

is the way i did it, i did the N/S CV, watch you dont pop the shaft out when your taking the CV off