Maybe a bad CV joint. Check to see if rubber boot item is cracked.
That's it! The joint is part of the axle. $93 at AutoZone;Maybe a bad CV joint. Check to see if rubber boot item is cracked.
Maybe a bad CV joint. Check to see if rubber boot item is cracked.
I have a 2012 Subaru Outback. When I am going at slow speed and turn the steering wheel all the way to the left or right the front end clunks. Does anybody have any idea what this is?
It's almost certainly a CV joint based on your symptoms. You'll probably see that one or both of the rubber boots are cracked/torn (it can be hard to see, it often happens on the inside part o the bellows fold, and you may need to rotate the wheels so you can peek inside all those folds). >Don't< be as lazy as I (and many other folks) have been and convince yourself that you can just take off the boot, jam a lot of new grease through the joint, and put a new two piece boot on. If you can hear the clunking or even a clicking, the grit has already done its damage and you need to replace the joint, along with the boot(s). Anyway, I've heard the 2-piece boots don't stay together very well.A front axle is probably it. . . . . You should be able to peer down from under the hood with a flashlight to inspect. Be sure to get the boot at the same time. They make 2-piece boots you can glue the two halves together if you catch it soon enough, but sounds like yours wasn't.
Car seems to drive fine until I make hard slow turns all the way to the right or left. It seems like a clunk and then front end seems to sway up and down a little. Well, it's off to a hopefully honest mechanic tomorrow for me. Thanks BamamanClunks can also be motor mounts.
Ball joints? Probably not, if it clicks regularly as you turn. It's probably the CV ("constant velocity") joint(s). Ball joints would be cheaper to fix.Thanks everyone. I am beginning to think it is the ball joints.
I'm not sure vehicles have ball joints nowadays
I think it is the CV joints, but it could be a worn ball joint or other suspension part. A good independent alignment shop would be able to check it out and determine if the suspension is the cause. CV joints tend to click and repeat clicks while the wheel is turned and tire is rotating, rather than a single clunk.
The good thing is you can keep driving the car for a little while, it may help to get a better idea of what the sound is caused by. Don't neglect the sound, but It's OK to drive while figuring out what the noise is.
I have an 2016 Outback and frequently use the Outback forum at:
https://www.subaruoutback.org/index.php
This site has a great wealth of info. Go to the Gen 4 Forum to look for issues related to your year group. If you can't find the answer, just post a question and someone will answer very quickly.
Kind of - it's actually a photo of a drive shaft with 2 CV joints (one either end) ... which can usually be replaced as individual items.That's it! The joint is part of the axle. $93 at AutoZone;
https://www.autozone.com/drivetrain/cv-axle/duralast-gold-cv-axle/346695_0_0_2805
Here's photo of a CV joint;