What causes popping or clicking noise when turning?

Worn outer CV joint; Torn CV boot; Worn struts, strut mounts, or bearings; Worn ball joints or tie-rod ends; Worn sway bar links or bushings; Loose lug nuts or brake hardware.

Caution

Popping or Clicking Noise When Turning

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A clicking or popping noise that appears when you turn, and gets louder and faster the sharper you steer, is the classic sign of a worn CV (constant-velocity) joint on a front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive vehicle. It usually starts after the protective boot tears and lets grease out and grit in. Less commonly, the noise comes from worn suspension or steering parts rather than the axle.

Common causes

1
Worn outer CV joint
The most common cause. A torn boot lets grease escape and dirt in, wearing the internal balls and races. They then 'pop' over the worn surfaces under load, getting louder during tight, low-speed turns like parking lots.
2
Torn CV boot
Even before the joint is badly worn, a split boot is the root problem. Caught early, replacing the boot and repacking grease can save the whole axle; left alone it guarantees joint failure.
3
Worn struts, strut mounts, or bearings
A damaged strut mount or bearing can pop or clunk as the suspension loads and unloads through a turn, sometimes mistaken for a CV joint.
4
Worn ball joints or tie-rod ends
Loose steering or suspension joints can pop or creak when turning and also affect alignment and steering feel, making them a safety concern.
5
Worn sway bar links or bushings
Loose sway-bar end links commonly clunk or pop over bumps and through turns, especially at low speed.
6
Loose lug nuts or brake hardware
Occasionally a popping in turns is loose wheel fasteners or a shifting brake component rather than the drivetrain, which makes prompt inspection important.

What to do

Have the noise inspected soon. A clicking CV joint is generally safe to drive on for a short time, but a badly worn joint can eventually fail completely and lock or separate the axle, which can leave you stranded or cause a loss of drive. If you also feel play in the steering, clunking over bumps, or grease flung around the inside of the wheel, treat it as more urgent and avoid hard turns until a mechanic checks the axle, boot, and suspension joints.

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Common causes

Worn outer CV joint

The most common cause. A torn boot lets grease escape and dirt in, wearing the internal balls and races. They then 'pop' over the worn surfaces under load, getting louder during tight, low-speed turns like parking lots.

Torn CV boot

Even before the joint is badly worn, a split boot is the root problem. Caught early, replacing the boot and repacking grease can save the whole axle; left alone it guarantees joint failure.

Worn struts, strut mounts, or bearings

A damaged strut mount or bearing can pop or clunk as the suspension loads and unloads through a turn, sometimes mistaken for a CV joint.

Worn ball joints or tie-rod ends

Loose steering or suspension joints can pop or creak when turning and also affect alignment and steering feel, making them a safety concern.

Worn sway bar links or bushings

Loose sway-bar end links commonly clunk or pop over bumps and through turns, especially at low speed.

Loose lug nuts or brake hardware

Occasionally a popping in turns is loose wheel fasteners or a shifting brake component rather than the drivetrain, which makes prompt inspection important.

What to do