I am running a 2012 Acura MDX with about 85k miles on it. Recently the car has been making a clicking noise when making some left turns. A video of the turn and the noise is linked below. What is interesting is that I can reproduce it on the turn in the video, but I can't in a parking lot or some other turns making this very weird. Making a left in this particular intersection always makes this noise and some other sporadic intersections as well. It feels like the noise is coming from the wheel well in the front, likely on the driver's side, but maybe it is coming from somewhere else. I can kind of feel it under my feet. It is tough to pinpoint from inside the cabin. I took down both front tires and checked the axle boots and they are just fine. No grease leaking from them with no cracks. So now I am stumped and not sure what to do. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks in advance, and hopefully many thanks later as I get this figured out.
-Beck

 

CV axle

 

Thanks for the brief and precise response

That is pretty much what I figured as well. I am pretty sure I can do the job as I have done it on my previous car. But it was a PIA because there was a bit of rust and difficulty. Car was out of commission for a few days which can't happen for this one. I guess have scheduled myself to get to the shop on Tuesday . I hate paying for work I can do myself.

 

If you have intermediate skill you can replace the axle yourself. I just replaced the driver side axle on my 2001 MDX and its relatively easy other than rust. My MDX parks outside in Wisconsin and is one big rust deposit so your 2012 can only be easier. I didn't even have to remove the ball joint. Just removed axle bolt, strut bolts and the tierod. I could swing the knuckle out and free the axle. Popping the axle out was easy too. I had to use the curled end of a crow bar. No fluid even leaked out. I bought the part for $76 at NAPA. I'm not diagnosing it as the CV joints, but if you are going to replace the axle and the 2012 design is the same as the 2001, you can do it in your garage in 1-2 hour if all the bolts come out with no problem. The only bolt I would worry about is the tierod. So start with that one. If you remove it you are home free. Good luck.

 

Sounds like your driveshaft needs replacement. Not worth the hassle to replace boots or other components, they are inexpensive enough to replace as an assembly.

 

I have same clicking noise since maybe 30k (now at 91k) at first it was happening only at really low temps like 0f and lower and only on first turn.
After first turn sound was gone. Same thing still happening after many thousand miles, but now, it have to be little lower then freezing temps outside, still just a first turn in the morning, after that sound is gone.
Maybe later on, I will open a boot to inspect whats up down there.
If yours makes clinking all the time, change it. If it is making only on first turn of the day, I would say....there is no rush...

 

For closure, I replaced the axle and everything works fine. Thanks everyone.