Are CV joints and ball joints the same thing?

CV joints are basically intricate ball and socket joints. Inner CV joints connect the driving shafts to the transmission while the outer CV joints connect the drive shafts to the car’s wheels. A majority of rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive cars, as well as trucks, also have CV joints.

What happens when your CV joint goes bad?

If a CV joint begins to fail while driving, your car will start to pull to one side as one wheel loses power. When the joint breaks completely its corresponding wheel will no longer turn and although the engine may still run, the car won’t move.

Do you have to replace both CV joints at the same time?

CV joints and boots can be replaced individually, but most professional technicians and even do-it-yourselfers prefer to replace the whole halfshaft assembly with a remanufactured shaft. On a high-mileage vehicle with a bad CV joint or boot, it’s often a good idea to replace both shafts at the same time.