CV joint replacement advice

[CoventryCat86]

It has very "CV" symptoms. A fast clicking/clunking sound that only happens when the wheels are almost fully turned either left or right. After driving a while, when pulled into an enclosed space like the garage, you can detect a hot burning rubber like smell on the passenger side. I assume that's the boot getting hot. I really need to spend some time on it to try and diagnose it, but the wife is a bit of a PITA to pin down on car maintenance issues. I think I've posted about that particular issue previously.

BINGO! This is definitely CV joint problem and not a tie rod problem. A loose tie rod end (inner or outter) would result in sloppy steering/play in the steering wheel which is a completely different set of symptoms from a bad CV joint. Bad tie rod ends show up when you try to get the front end aligned and the guy says he can't align it because of a bad tie rod end or ends.

[Eville]

Cool, just checking. When my tie rod end started going bad at about 40k there wasn't any noticeable play in the wheel, just clicking/creaking whenever I would turn and especially when I would turn and hit a bump. Goodluck with that CV.

[nhcigarfan]

My wife wouldn't let me near her car unless I prepaid the towing charge to get it to a reputable mechanic.