The outer CV joint is a crucial part of a cars driving function and is responsible for transferring torque from the transmission to the wheels at a constant speed. Failure of a CV joint can result in severe problems for your vehicle and should be repaired as soon as possible.

The failure of a outer CV joint is most likely due to dirt and water getting in to the joint from a broken or split CV boot. Driverside CV joint damage is more common than passenger side joint damage due to the heat that is emitted on that side of the vehicle. This heat can dry and crack the rubberised CV boot and thin down the lubricant which is inside the joint protecting the outer CV joint causing evaporation and leakage. This means that the sensitive parts of the CV joint will rub against each other, causing wear and tear. Outer CV joints break more often than inners as they endure more movement.

More often than not, the damage to a outer CV joint is demonstrated by a clicking or popping noise when turning.