I need help diagnosing a constant metal popping and clunking sound in the front end of my 2008 Rhino 450. It does on both sides it sounds like and at all speeds, in 2&4WD, but stops completely during right turns. The front left wheel bearings and axel has been replaced and I still have the sound. If its a cv or U joint what should I look or physically for any mechanical issues ? Any and all suggestions PLEASE. Also you can visibly see a slight scuff mark on the inside of the tire where the u joint rubs the inside the tire, if that helps any.

I'm having the same issue but only on the drivers side. It shuts up the second I turn right. HELLPPP. Got a big weekend coming up on the 17th and need my toy raring to go!

Sounds like a CV joint. Same as a front wheel drive car. When the CV joint goes bad it will click and pop while turning a certain direction. Jack it up and turn the wheel to find the bad one.

also look for grease splattered underneath or possibly inside the wheel.

I am new to the UTV stuff but have worked on AWD and Front wheel Drive cars for 30+ years.

Im sure there is probably a diagnostic short cut for UTV's and perhaps someone will chime in.

The drivers side looks to be slightly off center when looking at it on level ground. How hard is a cv joint to replace? I just got my rhino about a month ago and am still learning a lot haha. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1352350663.783394.jpg

A quick youtube search resulted in this, not a Yamaha but basically the same

Its rare that the front CVs go bad but the sound your hearing is a worn CV symptom. But looking at your picture I would check the ball joints and wheel bearings too. grab the top of the tire and shake the crap out of it, is it loose or is there any play in it? If so you can see if its coming from the ball joints or wheel bearings. Have you hit anything with that corner that may have bent the spindle?

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RFN Member since January 2007

I haven't hit anything with it. Have driven slowly over a couple small downed trees. But I mean small. I'm going to check it this am and will report back.

Yeah, I don't like the looks of the driver's side tire angle.

sent from my twin-turboed Razr

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Jacked it up. Everything looks good. It's got about an inch and a half play when wiggling it top to bottom. Cv?

Sounds more like a ball joint now instead of cv. When you hit a bump does the suspension sound like it is hitting the hood?

No. I don't hear anything like that when I do hit a bump

The balljoint may not be that point yet without seeing it, it could be one or the other.

If you are on pavement (or very smooth surface) what happens when you turn the wheel and go in both forward and reverse?

If you here a clicking noise that gets faster as you accelerate and slower as you decal more than likely CV. If no noise heard in this manner but heard when going straight on ruff or uneven terrain most likely ball joint.

Hope I didn't misread this somehow, but don't use the machine until you fix it....1.5" is MAJOR and should be easy to find the problem. I'm going with ball joint/spindle/bearing totally worn out and about ready to bust. If you putter around and don't fully work the suspension, you may not hear it. When you wiggle it, look for the free play...there is what needs to get fixed

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Do I need to pull the tire and boot off to tell which one it is?

It doesn't do it when turning.