CV Joint, Bearing, or ???

[70camaro]

94 metro, 3cyl, 5-speed.
I will try to explain the problem as best I can:
There is a 'crunching' or 'creaking' sound usually when I start from a dead stop, AND when I shift from 1st to 2nd as the vehicle weight shifts. It is coming from the drivers side front.
At first I thought it was something in the clutch. BUT it does NOT do it when the clutch is pressed or released out of gear, NOR once the car is going forward at speed (3RD-4TH-5TH).
Also I noticed sometimes it makes the sound when the clutch is not being moved at all, like when coming to a stop (in nuetral), or slowly going thru a dip (in gear).
I thought maybe something in the suspension, like a loose shock mount, BUT when I move the vehicle up and down in the driveway - no sound, cant find anything loose either.
mostly makes the sound when pressure is applied from the engine to the drivetrain from stop.
Since I cant make the sound unless I'm driving, my best guess is it is comming from the tire/suspension area. Lugnuts are tight.
Performance is fine, car drives normally. Any ideas what is making this sound? Thanks in advance!

[Crvett69]

i would check your engine and tranny mounts

[91Caprice9c1]

^+1 absolutely check your mounts.

Any torn CV boots? Typically you will start to hear CV Joints fail around tight, throttled turns.

Bad wheel bearings will make a deep, cyclic grinding/groaning sound at speed - you will also notice the pitch change as you shift vehicle weight from one side to the other (steering right, steering left) at speed.

-MechanicMatt

[Woodie83]

Bad control arm bushing or rusted frame where the control arm mounts. Have someone hold the brake while you push the car forward and backward.

[70camaro]

WOW, great replies! Thanks! I will check the engine and trans mounts first, that sounds like a likely culprit to me.. then the control arms..
CV boots are fine, checked that first. Although turning does make a difference, the sound is not limited to when turning.
Thanks again!

[91Caprice9c1]

Crvett and Woodie have you in good hands. I'd place money on either of them being right on.

-MechanicMatt

[dwendt1978]

70camaro,

Did you ever find out what was wrong?? Were curious here!!

[91Caprice9c1]

^+1. Keep your Metrodian Bretheren abreast, goodman!

-MechanicMatt

[GeoRandy]

Hey, this just started happening to my 97,1.0, hatchback; last week. When I turn, I hear a "ka-whop - ka-whop..." and I'm thinking CV joints. Only makes noise during tight turns. No problem on straights.
Is it CV joints and are they hard to replace?
How much should they cost at auto parts house?
What would it cost at a repair shop?
Thanks a lot.

[70camaro]

Sorry for not keeping you updated, I have not been able to get out and really look at it.. It's been really cold here. I did look quickly at the mounts and didn't see anything obviously wrong.. Funny thing is, now that it's below freezing all the time, It's not making the noise! ~WEIRD! Maybe the bushings on the mounts are frozen and not moveing???
Anyway, I'll look again when it gets warmer and/or I get the noise back.

[Gene H]

Just a thought in case you decide to disassemble the outer joints: I bought a 95 metro this spring. Before driving it I did some maintenance. I had to replace the outer CV boots. They were cracking. When I took the first outer joint apart I found that the outer housing was galled up where the balls run against the surface. The other parts and the balls were in very good condition though. My first thought was that I would have to replace the whole shaft but then I decided to tear the other one apart to see if I needed to order both of them. It to was worn the same way. The components from one assembly looked the same as the other assembly, so I decided to switch the whole CV knuckle assembly from one shaft to the other shaft. Doing this makes the balls run against a prestine surface again because I reversed the drive rotation of the assembly. I installed the new boots and reinstalled the shafts onto the car. 3000 miles later and they run smooth and no noise. PS: since I didn't drive the car prior to this change, I do not know if they were noisy before the change.