Testing a CV Joint?

Is there a sure fire way to determine if a CV joint is bad? I've got an 87 Camry with the classic bad drivers side joint symptoms:clicking on right turns, thumping/grinding noise from the drivers side on acceleration. I changed this half shaft assembly 8 months ago for the same symptoms. At that time I could feel slop when I twisted it by hand. A new one fixed the noises. This time there's no slop. The boots are not cut. I'd like to make sure the joints are bad before I blow 4 hours for nothing. Wodya think?

I don't think that there is any definite way to test the joints to verify if that's what's causing the problem. But it sounds like that is the exact cause of your problem, it has all the symptoms, and I figure it would be worth the four hours spent on it.

Is there a sure fire way to determine if a CV joint is bad? I've got an 87 Camry with the classic bad drivers side joint symptoms:clicking on right turns, thumping/grinding noise from the drivers side on acceleration. I changed this half shaft assembly 8 months ago for the same symptoms. At that time I could feel slop when I twisted it by hand. A new one fixed the noises. This time there's no slop. The boots are not cut. I'd like to make sure the joints are bad before I blow 4 hours for nothing. Wodya think?

That is about the only way to tell, drive forward slowly with the steering wheel locked one direction, then the other direction. If you hear clicking the CV is bad. Repeat steps in reverse as well.

Is it a distinct knock OR a grinding noise... The hub bearings will whine & grind.... Bob

Changed the driver's side half shaft assembly, noises are gone. All is well. It's sad to say it only took me 2 hours this time. This is the third assembly I've changed in a year. I'm getting too good at this! Thanks for the inputs.