front end clicking noise while turning

NickS · #1 (**permalink**) 07-12-2010, 02:07 PM

I have a "clicking" sound coming from my front end when I make sharp turns to the left or right while riding it on the pavement. It only does it once when I start the initial turn. Any idea on what is causing this? It seems to be only when I am going down the road. I jacked up the front end and manually pushed the wheels into motion and turned the wheels, and it did nothing. It seems like it only does it when I am driving down the road, and that is the reason I can't get a good inspection of the problem down there. I have read that it could be the cage or something like that in the differential but i'm not sure. I jacked it up and can grab the axles where the come out of the differential and they seem like they move. I made a call to a guy I know who is a mechanic for Polaris and he told me (of course over the phone without seeing it) that it sounds like a u-joint and cv boot maybe. Where would I start to look to fix this. He also told me that he could fix it, or I could probably drive around forever and nothing happen to it, it would just be annoying when I turn and it wasn't that big of a deal, it only did it when that joint got into a bind. I mentioned something about the cage in the differential, and he said that that isn't likely. Of all the years he has been working on them, he has only seen 1 with a busted cage and he said that you have to ride the hell out of one to bust the cage inside. I did buy it used, so i'm not sure. It is an '05 Sportsman 4x4 400 with 700 miles and 90 hours on it. Any help?

**blueline15** · #2 (**permalink**) 07-12-2010, 04:52 PM

i would tend to agree with your mechanic friend, sounds like a bad u-joint

NickS · #3 (**permalink**) 07-13-2010, 05:00 PM

What/where would I need to check if the U-joint is bad? Im buying the service manual for my ATV tonight, but it will be a few days before I get it. If it is bad, will it hurt much to keep riding it for a while until I get it fixed?

jeepster651 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 10:15 AM

Most likely the cv joint is bad.... Jack front end up twist drive axles and see if there is any play

NickS · #5 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepster651

Most likely the cv joint is bad.... Jack front end up twist drive axles and see if there is any play

Jeepster, I jacked it up earlier, and I can move the axles a little bit. They have just a little play. If that is the case, why wont it make the noise when I manually spin the wheels and turn it when the front end is jacked up?

jeepster651 · #6 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010, 10:20 AM

when you jack up the front end and free spin the tire, there is no load on that axle. so you wont get the axle to bind up. (there is no weight tension on that axle) when the wheeler is on the ground you have the axle trying to turn the weight of the wheeler. sometimes if they are really bad no matter what you do it will click. I work on cars for a living and when you get clicking like that when you turn 99% of the time its a cv joint or u-joint. axles on these are just like cars only smaller.( does it do it in 2wd and in 4wd?)

NickS · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepster651

when you jack up the front end and free spin the tire, there is no load on that axle. so you wont get the axle to bind up. (there is no weight tension on that axle) when the wheeler is on the ground you have the axle trying to turn the weight of the wheeler. sometimes if they are really bad no matter what you do it will click. I work on cars for a living and when you get clicking like that when you turn 99% of the time its a cv joint or u-joint. axles on these are just like cars only smaller.( does it do it in 2wd and in 4wd?)

I understand, that makes sense. I will check the 4wd when I get home, but what difference is it going to make? It does it when i'm turning left and right. Why would it do it in 2wd and not 4wd? If it is doing it when I turn left and right, am I going to have to replace both axles do you think?

NickS · #8 (**permalink**) 07-26-2010, 05:52 PM

Yeah, it does it in 4wd also. It is starting to sound like a bad CV Joint. So on to my next question, how do I know which axle on the front that needs to be replaced?

resqu51@msn.com · #9 (**permalink**) 01-03-2011, 05:48 PM

Which side is the noise comming from? that is the one. Same happens in cars, turning is turning left or right the CV joint is at an angle and will click if bad, just listen to which one.

Also if it is a CV joint, don't ignore it, I did. And it took the better part of the day to get the bike home. It really is easy to change out with just some normal tools. The biggest expense other then the CV Joint which should come with the grease and boot (should be about $45.00, look on line), is a banding wrench, I suggest Carquest, they had it and the bands in case of a screw-up (again experience here). I also found out that Carquest carries the CV joint later, they can cross reference and it was a heck of a lot cheaper (no I am not with Carquest, they just got the parts and the only resource I have).