something wrong with my 2018 hyundai Elantra CV axle

[FiftyAndFabulous]

I finally have the time to check my car. I was crawling under my old Elantra, trying to figure out this clunking sound in the suspension (the sway bar link was swapped out last year, tho').

Anyway, I spotted a mess when I yanked off the front driver's side wheel.

Looks to me like that inner CV boot's probably cracked or ripped somewhere, even though I didn't see the actual damage from where I was looking.

What do you think guys, could this busted boot be making that clunking noise? And how to fix this?

 

[eldad96]

A torn inner cv boot can definitely cause clunking if grease leaks out and dirt gets in leading to joint wear. It’s best to replace the boot asap or the whole cv axle if damage is bad. Fixing it early saves bigger repair costs down the road!

 

[elantra_guy_12]

I finally have the time to check my car. I was crawling under my old Elantra, trying to figure out this clunking sound in the suspension (the sway bar link was swapped out last year, tho').

Anyway, I spotted a mess when I yanked off the front driver's side wheel.

Looks to me like that inner CV boot's probably cracked or ripped somewhere, even though I didn't see the actual damage from where I was looking.

What do you think guys, could this busted boot be making that clunking noise? And how to fix this?

What @eldad96 said is on point, but honestly, if you're already hearing a clunk, there's a good chance the joint is compromised.
In that case, the most reliable fix is usually to replace the entire CV axle assembly.
It's often not much more expensive than just the boot kit and saves you the headache down the road!

 

[ElantraLlama]

Great advice from both of you. I had a similar experience with my old Suzuki Swift a few years ago. It all began with a small split in the inner boot, and I didn't catch it early enough. Before I knew it, the joint was clicking like crazy whenever I turned. I ended up having to replace the entire CV axle, but honestly, it wasn't too bad of a job once I got started.

If you're already hearing clunking, I'd suggest replacing the whole axle as well. Did you happen to see any grease splatter around there? That's usually a pretty clear sign something's not right.

 

[tunedfortorque761]

Nice job noticing the timing of the boot inspection. Those clicking joints and grease splatter clearly suggest that a complete axle replacement is necessary instead of just repairing the boot.