Unstable/wobbly drivers side wheel?

Tiny
JAYJOHNSON0318
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 DODGE AVENGER
  • 162,000 MILES
Drivers side wheel feels wobbly/unstable when going over uneven road at 60/70 MPH. I also Hear a clunk/thump when turning and there’s a clunk when shifting into reverse. All this sounds/feels like the driver's side. I think it’s my axle, but the shop says it looks fine. I still think that’s what could be wrong. What do you think it could be? I have Mostly all new suspension parts just not tire rods which they said looked good also. New tires as well.
Tuesday, October 24th, 2023 AT 6:10 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,144 POSTS
The first thing I would say is tie rods, did they check the inner tie rods? These can wear as well and cause the problem you are describing. I have also seen the lower control arm bushing or ball joint do out as well. can I ask if the car has new struts? This guide may help and i have included images below so we can be on the same page:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/clicking-sound

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/popping-noise

Check out the images (below). Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem so we can see what's going on.
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Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 AT 8:23 AM
Tiny
JAYJOHNSON0318
  • MEMBER
  • 40 POSTS
Yeah, they said tire rods were tight and looked fine. And new control arms and struts. And also, when I press the gas too fast sometime there’s a loud clunk.
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Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 AT 12:51 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,144 POSTS
Yep, I need to agree with you I think the CV axle is bad which can cause this problem. I would replace both sides. Here are the instructions on how to do the job. Check out the images (below). Please let us know how it goes.
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Thursday, October 26th, 2023 AT 11:31 AM
Tiny
JAYJOHNSON0318
  • MEMBER
  • 40 POSTS
Okay, why can’t the shop physically see anything wrong with my axle? It looks pretty new, so they think it’s fine. Is it because technically the joint inside the boot is bad and not the axle itself? Or how does that go?
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Monday, October 30th, 2023 AT 5:44 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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  • 54,144 POSTS
The CV joint can wear out internally. But I would rotate the tires from front to back to see if that changes anything, you may have a tire coming apart. Can you upload a short video of the problem so I can see?
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Monday, October 30th, 2023 AT 9:49 AM
Tiny
JAYJOHNSON0318
  • MEMBER
  • 40 POSTS
I just got brand new tires on. It’s still having the same problem on the driver's side. I can't upload video because clunk only happens when turning car while driving and the wheel feeling wobbly only happens on drivers' side only when driving fast speed. Idk if I could get a video of these things.
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Monday, October 30th, 2023 AT 11:38 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Yep, it sounds like the CV axle is bad. I would swap the drivers side out if everything else looks okay.
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Tuesday, October 31st, 2023 AT 9:02 AM

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