I have a 2002 manual cougar. Just recently it started making one hell of a racket up front. When I turn left, it pops and makes my car lunge, sometimes just once and other times several times throughout the turn. It only does this when im turn left. I was thinkin that it is my CV joint. Any suggestions?

 

you're probably right, and it's probably the one on the right side.

 

CV joints usually start clicking when they are on there way out. They do it when turning because of the added pressure on the joint and the joint angle. Not sure about the lunging though. There is no mistaking the sound of a bad CV joint. I can give you one suggestion, don't ever replace a CV joint. It is alot cheaper, and a hell of alot easier to change the whole axle. Do you plan on changing the axle yourself?

 

I drove a 93 Taurus wagon that had a bad driver side CV joint. it used to spin and then grab. felt like the trans was slipping out of gear and then popping back into gear, but it was the CV joint. finally one day, it snapped clean off and I was stranded. Not a fun day. and yes, the whole axle from the trans to the wheel was replaced.

 

after i dropped everything and pulled out the CV joint, realized that none of the boots were torn or twisted and it hit me.... if the joint was slippin inside of itself the boot closest to the tranny would be F-ed up. but it was fine! finally we realized that its in the tranny cuz u can just feel the closest section of the CV joint just spin freely without catching. so we're thinkin the teeth that catch on the CV joint splin are sheered

 

Just so you know, the CV joint boot didn't shred on that taurus I drove until the joint broke.

 

check the boots to see if they are loose around the clamp points to make sure.

 

Highly unlikely that the axle splines are to blame. Especially on the transaxle side. The hub side maybe. I think you are on the right track w/the slipping transaxle. Check the fluid level and condition. Let us know.