CV joints & driveshafts — Wonderboom South
Hearing a clicking noise when turning, or feeling a shudder as you pull away? For CV joint repair, Pretoria drivers have been bringing their cars and bakkies to our Wonderboom South workshop since 1979, and we tell you straight what the joint needs before any work starts.
How it works
On a front-wheel-drive car, and on many bakkies and SUVs, a driveshaft runs from the gearbox to each driven wheel. At each end of that shaft sits a constant velocity joint, the CV joint, which keeps the wheel turning smoothly while the suspension moves up and down and the steering swings left and right. The outer joint does most of the work on turns; the inner joint soaks up the travel of the suspension.
Each joint is packed with grease and sealed inside a rubber CV boot. While the boot stays whole, the joint is protected. Once it splits, wear speeds up quickly. CV joints are where this workshop built its name, which is why drivers looking for CV joint specialists still find their way to Steve Biko Road.
Symptoms
You do not need to know which part has failed. Tell us what you are hearing or feeling, or read our article on the common signs a CV joint needs replacing.
A rhythmic click from one front corner on full lock, such as reversing out of a parking bay, usually points to a worn outer joint.
Dark grease thrown around the inside of the rim or onto the suspension means the rubber boot has split and the joint is losing its grease.
A vibration through the floor or steering wheel that comes in under power and eases off when you lift your foot often points to the inner joint.
A shudder when pulling away or climbing a hill can come from a worn joint or a bent driveshaft, and both are worth catching early.
WhatsApp us a short description with your make, model and year.
WhatsApp the workshop →Timing
A torn CV boot is a small problem on a short fuse. Every turn of the wheel throws a little more grease out, and every trip lets dust, grit and water in. Grit inside a joint behaves like grinding paste, so a joint that only needed a new boot this month can need replacing a few months later.
Caught early, a CV boot replacement with fresh grease can save the joint. Left too long, the joint wears, the clicking gets louder, and a badly worn joint can eventually fail completely and leave the car unable to drive.
Our process
We diagnose first and quote second, and we never assume a whole driveshaft is needed when a smaller repair will do.
With the car on the hoist we check the inner and outer joints on both sides, every boot, and the driveshaft itself.
We check each joint for play and listen to it under load, so we know the noise really is a CV joint and not a wheel bearing or suspension part.
We explain whether repair or replacement makes sense for your vehicle, and why, before any work starts. Drivers often ask about CV joint reconditioning versus a new part; the honest answer depends on the vehicle and the wear we find.
Depending on what we find, that means a CV boot replacement, a CV joint replacement, or CV axle repair with a replacement shaft. Where the driveshaft itself is damaged, we take care of the driveshaft repair too, then recheck the car before it goes back to you.
CV work is one part of what we do. See the full list on our services page.
Find the workshop
Our workshop is at 880 Steve Biko Road, Wonderboom South, Pretoria, 0182. If you are searching for CV joints near me or CV repairs near me in the northern suburbs, we are an easy drive from:
Directions and a quote form are on our contact page.
Questions
The most common sign is a clicking or clunking noise when you turn, especially on full lock at low speed. Other signs are grease on the inside of the wheel rim from a torn boot, vibration when accelerating, and a shudder when pulling away.
Have it checked promptly. The clicking means the joint is already worn, and a badly worn joint can fail completely and leave the car stranded.
The CV joint is the metal joint at each end of the driveshaft that lets the wheel turn and move while it is being driven. The CV boot is the rubber cover that keeps the grease in and dirt out. A torn boot can often be replaced on its own if it is caught before the joint is damaged.
Both. We inspect the joint, boot and driveshaft first, then explain whether a new boot, a replacement joint or a complete axle makes the most sense for your vehicle.
It depends on the vehicle and the fault, and on whether parts need to be sourced. Once we have inspected the car, we give you an estimate of the time involved before any work starts.
Our workshop is at 880 Steve Biko Road, Wonderboom South. We see drivers from Pretoria North, Wonderboom South, Gezina, Silverton, Akasia, Montana and Waverley, and anyone else in greater Pretoria is welcome.
Call or WhatsApp us with your make, model and year. 880 Steve Biko Road, Wonderboom South, open Monday to Friday, 07:30 to 17:30.
