how do you tell if a cv joint in the front driveshaft is bad?

[ca1rangers]

I have no idea how to test this. But I think it is

 

[Original_Ranger84]

It will make noise when spinning. Be very loose, both to just turn and move the shaft around in ways it is not designed to... If the boot is broken thats another way to tell... if its been driven like that for awhile.

 

[rurouni20xx]

what year truck? reason im asking is to see if you have ttb (twin traction beam) like i do or if you have the newer doublewishbone/torsion rod suspension. the newer ones is easy just get down there and twist on the joint on the inside of the wheel, check for lateral slack and twist on it. if its broken broken the shaft will be off center. as far as the older ttb its a giant u joint, and to be honest ive never seen one broken, just boots torn from sticks. another way to tell if it has heavy wear is if your turning like in a parking lot with the wheel close to maxed it sounds like you have a machine gun in the wheel. thats popping from slack in the balls and the entire joint on that end needs to be replaced its on the verge of breaking or has already stuck once or twice. hope that helps.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

what year truck? reason im asking is to see if you have ttb (twin traction beam) like i do or if you have the newer doublewishbone/torsion rod suspension. the newer ones is easy just get down there and twist on the joint on the inside of the wheel, check for lateral slack and twist on it. if its broken broken the shaft will be off center. as far as the older ttb its a giant u joint, and to be honest ive never seen one broken, just boots torn from sticks. another way to tell if it has heavy wear is if your turning like in a parking lot with the wheel close to maxed it sounds like you have a machine gun in the wheel. thats popping from slack in the balls and the entire joint on that end needs to be replaced its on the verge of breaking or has already stuck once or twice. hope that helps.

Its an IFS system because its a 00'

 

[Caps4x4]

The 2000 is the torsion bar setup. Just get under there and grab onto each one and push, pull, and just generally try to move it around. It might have "a little" play, but not much. IF when you do that, you feel it moving around more then 'a little' then they are worn, and if it just flops around, then it's most likely broke.

 

[Original_Ranger84]

The 2000 is the torsion bar setup. Just get under there and grab onto each one and push, pull, and just generally try to move it around. It might have "a little" play, but not much. IF when you do that, you feel it moving around more then 'a little' then they are worn, and if it just flops around, then it's most likely broke.

He is asking about the CV shafts from the front axle. If the suspension moves at all in any way that it doesn't need to then you more then likely have a problem or will have a problem very shortly.

 

[rurouni20xx]

what he was saying is there is an acceptable amount of play in the eccentrics (balls) on the shafts. no more than 1/4 inch of slack when twisting the axle is acceptable.

 

[ca1rangers]

Thanks for all the help but just so we are on the same page, this is what Im talking about

http://www.drivewire.com/search/?N=0&sv=0&VN=4294967189+4294966864+4294966802+4294966840+4294967124&Ntt=driveshaft&Nr=AND(universal:0)

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Oh... that makes sense... lol I thought you were talking about the diff to hub CV axles.

Then yeah about a 1/4 to 1/2" of play is common.