Bad CV joint or Ball Joints or none...2000 Jetta GLS

[emoskater84]

Hi Everyone,

I have a 2000 Jetta GLS 2.0 with 100,000 miles on it.

Here's my problem:

- Everytime I turn sharply on the drivers side it makes a clunking sound.
- At high speeds(75MPH) the car is a little harder to control compared to other vehicles. What I mean is the steering is a little wobbely like the car is about to lose control or something(but not that bad).

Now I know CV joints could be bad if it were clicking while driving, but it makes a CLUNKING sound only when turning and a little harder to control when driving faster so I dont think it's that.

Any suggestions as to what it might be??

[veedubmechanic]

Inner tie rod assemblies are loose... very common on higher mileage mk4 vw's. Replace the inner and outer tie rod assemblies on both sides, there about 85.00 per side in parts

[mbMike]

I think I am suffering badly from this, is it safe to drive the car to the garage? The CLUNKING issue went from "slight shimmy" to "bad CLUNKING" when I turn the wheel in about 15 miles (it's now parked in a parking lot and I a have a rental car...).

So the question I have, is will I damage the car more than just the parts that are already shot by driving it a little more (a few miles to the garage)?

[mbMike]

That crunching noise turned out to be my wallet. Tranny's broken and maybe the clutch is damaged. $3k down the drain...boo-hoo-hoo...

[veedubmechanic]

Wow, bad differential in the transmission bust a hole in the transmission case

[mbMike]

Originally Posted by veedubmechanic

Wow, bad differential in the transmission bust a hole in the transmission case

I didn't see the damage. But I did see a bunch of metal chunks in my transmission fluid. I decided that since my car is still relatively new ('02) that I would just buy a new transmission. The clutch was damaged as well, but regardless, I wanted a new clutch to go with the new transmission.

Drives like a dream again.