2001 Ducato 2.8 Diesel Maxi (3.8 Ton Chassis Motorcaravan)

I apologize if this inquiry proves redundant but couldn't find anything relevant in search.

As title describes there is a clunk coming from the RH front wheel with a little resonant thump that I can feel through the floor when accelerating from stopped. It doesn't always happen and has not been happening for more than a few months.

I have crawled under for a quick inspect and pulled and wiggled everything under there but find no obvious looseness anywhere. (CV Bearing Boot is replaceable though as it is quite split radially) I don't know if the CV Boot has anything to do with it but could it be a failing CV? possibly caused by some debris that has entered the boot? It seems like a pretty off chance that anything like sand or dirt could have caused the bearing to clunk so violently though. That boot split only within the last 5,000 KM's as I had it replaced when I did a clutch job last spring. So there has not been too long of exposure, in fact there is still a lot of grease packed in there enough to hold the profile of the boot intact.

I hope someone has heard something similar and can lead me in the right direction, Thanks in advance

Hi, it does sound very much like all the CV joint grease has been expelled out through the split (doesn't take long!) and you've now got a dry CV joint, therefore clunks on movement and grinding feel underfoot, its normally more obvious when turning the vehicle with the steering on full lock, normally not noticeably when cruising along in straight line. If the grease has been thrown out recently you should have the grease visibly thrown around but if its happened and has been gone for a while then it will be dry and give the impression it's ok, other than a split.
There are some good vids on YT if you type in 'how to diagnose worn cv joint'.
Having had this myself, I'm sure this is your issue and would recommend either purchasing and fitting DIY boot and grease kit which are good but not easy if not mechanically savvy, or get them done for you by a garage....hope this helps

The sound you describe is usually the inner tripod is worn, the outer cv noises would be repetitive in time with the rotation of the wheel. If it the outer cvs are badly worn you will hear it clicking/ crunching if you drive in circles at hard lock left and hard lock right.

If the inner tripod is gone just get a complete driveshaft.

Thanks for the heads up on both these symptom descriptions. I will have a circle or two at full locks as soon as the snow clears. 4 - 6 " in the last few hours so further diagnosis has yielded to warm cups of tea while sitting in the warm van, instead of sloshing around in the winter wonderland outdoors!


Will report back with more findings as soon as things thaw.

How Far? can I stretch this before repair?

Please excuse my ignorance and suspect irresponsibility for asking this question.


I am trapped in Germany at the moment recovering from a surprise bout with cancer. I was supposed to be in Spain in November but...
So I am free to extricate myself from the grasp of the Cancer and the Hospital now and wish to - GET as QUICKLY as POSSIBLE to the SOUTH!


I have torn down engine blocks and do well with electrics but suspension I have not had the pleasure of learning, yet.


Given that there is an intermittent "Clunk" in there, doing obviously something not exactly right, I get that, but is there enough durability in the FIAT Ducato Maxi design of these parts (possibly the CV's?) to endure a 1000Km run to just over the border of Spain(Empuria Brava) where I have had a very good FIAT mechanic do several jobs in the past? (Timing Belt, Clutch) Could I stretch it that far before a catastrophic failure of the joint? BTW, I am too cheap to take the "Payant" so 60-80 Km/Hr max.


Be honest, I hold no one responsible for their advice and I realize this would be an irresponsible direction given normal circumstances. But, Oh Man, I would really like to get out of the Cold and the SNOW!


Thanks.

Are you sure that the suspension top mount is ok? I had a similar knock, especially when turning lock to lock.

Will do a lock to lock test tomorrow - snow almost cleared here in Germany so I am anxious to do the tests. Thanks, I will have the wife put a hand on the strut column to feel for a thump when I start off in a full on hard over turn.