# Bad CV joint?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-cv-joint/59955>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** matrix, toyota\
**Created:** [January 14, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-cv-joint/59955 "2011-01-14T22:16:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jeffrey.Rodriguez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@Jeffrey.Rodriguez](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffrey.Rodriguez)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-cv-joint/59955/1 "2011-01-14T22:16:04Z")

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Whenever I decelerate, I notice a rattle on front left side.  
  
  
  
 If I shift from drive to reverse, I notice a distinct “clunk” sound that never existed before.  
  
  
  
 If I put the car in reverse, I hear a loud tick/clunk each full revolution of the wheels.  
  
  
  
 When accelerating or maintaining speed, there are no symptoms, but going slowly or decelerating causes them to return.

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-cv-joint/59955/2 "2011-01-14T22:18:46Z")

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Most likely a defective CV joint. If you have solid wheel disks, also check for pebbles inside the wheel disk.

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**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-cv-joint/59955/3 "2011-01-14T22:37:24Z")

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Could also be a bad motor mount

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**Author:** ![Jeffrey.Rodriguez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@Jeffrey.Rodriguez](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffrey.Rodriguez)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-cv-joint/59955/4 "2011-01-14T22:49:09Z")

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Would a bad motor mount cause the clunking in reverse?

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**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-cv-joint/59955/5 "2011-01-14T23:16:01Z")

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It could, yes. When you shift, there’s some torque applied that, if the motor isn’t mounted properly, causes the whole motor to shift. You feel that as a clunk.

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**Author:** ![Jeffrey.Rodriguez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@Jeffrey.Rodriguez](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffrey.Rodriguez)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-cv-joint/59955/6 "2011-01-14T23:48:43Z")

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Let me clarify that a bit.

There are two scenarios:

1. Shifting back and forth between drive and reverse I notice a single clunk each time I shift.

2. If I put the car in reverse, and backup for 100’ or so, it clunks each revolution of the wheel.

Are there any specific tests I could do to check which it is?  
Just trying to make sure I’m chasing the right thing here 😉

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Jeffrey.Rodriguez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/278dde/32.png) [@Jeffrey.Rodriguez](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jeffrey.Rodriguez)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bad-cv-joint/59955/7 "2011-01-16T23:24:36Z")

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So I pulled the left side drive shaft, and it’s OK.

No pebbles either.

I went to check on the right drive shaft, and I noticed _facepalm_, a hammer had fallen behind the engine. It was right next to the drive shaft.

At least it was a cheap fix.