Quick answer
Repeated clicking on full-lock turns, especially at low speed, is commonly caused by a worn outer CV joint. If there is grease around the wheel arch, driveshaft or suspension area, a split CV boot may have let grease escape and allowed dirt into the joint.
Do not ignore clicking that gets louder, happens on one side, appears after a pothole, or comes with vibration, knocking, steering looseness, pulling or visible grease.
What clicking when turning feels like in real life
Click-click-click on full lock
Often points towards outer CV joint wear, especially on front-wheel-drive cars.
Clicking while reversing
A worn CV joint can be more obvious when reversing out of a driveway or parking space.
Grease near the wheel
Grease splattered around the inner wheel area strongly suggests a split CV boot.
CV boot MOT guide →Clicking after tyre work
Check wheel fittings, wheel trims and anything disturbed during recent work.
Clicking with knocking
May involve suspension, steering joints, strut top mounts or anti-roll bar links.
Knocking when turning →Clicking with vibration
Worn shafts, wheel issues, bearings or tyre faults may need checking.
Steering wheel shake →Common reasons a car clicks when turning
Worn outer CV joint
A classic cause of rhythmic clicking on tight turns or full lock.
Split CV boot
Grease loss allows dirt into the joint and can quickly cause wear.
Can CV boot fail MOT? →Driveshaft wear
Wear in the driveshaft or joints can cause clicking, vibration or knocking under load.
Loose suspension joint
Bushes, ball joints or links can click or knock as load shifts while turning.
Ball joint MOT guide →Steering linkage wear
Track rod ends or steering joints can make noises during direction changes.
Track rod end MOT guide →Wheel fitting issue
Loose wheel bolts, trims, centre caps or poor fitting can create clicking under load.
Strut top mount
A worn top mount can click, pop or twang as the steering turns.
Top mount MOT guide →Brake or shield contact
A loose brake shield, pad clip or debris can click around the wheel area.
Brake warning signs →Tyre scrub
At full lock, some tyres make scrub noises that can be mistaken for clicking.
CV joint clicking symptoms
A CV joint transfers drive while the front wheels steer and the suspension moves. When the outer joint wears, it often clicks most clearly during slow, tight turns, such as parking, reversing out of a driveway or turning sharply at junctions.
- 1Repeated clicking while turning left or right.
- 2Noise worse on full lock.
- 3Clicking louder when accelerating gently while turning.
- 4Grease visible near the wheel, arch liner, suspension or driveshaft.
- 5Clicking becomes louder or more frequent over time.
- 6Vibration, knocking or shuddering if wear becomes severe.
Clicking when turning left or right
The direction of the turn can help, but it does not always prove the faulty side from the driver’s seat. Noise can travel through the body, suspension and subframe.
Clicks mainly turning left
The loaded side and the affected CV joint or suspension part should be inspected carefully.
Clicks mainly turning right
A garage may road test the car both ways and inspect both front driveshafts and boots.
Clicks both directions
Could be more than one worn joint, a steering/suspension issue, tyre scrub or wheel-area fault.
Clicks only on full lock
Often more CV-joint related than a general suspension knock.
What to check first
1. Notice when it clicks
Full-lock parking, reversing, junction turns and low-speed manoeuvres are useful clues.
2. Identify the side
Try to notice whether the noise is louder from the left, right, front or rear.
3. Look for grease
Grease splattered around the inner wheel area often points to CV boot failure.
4. Check wheel security
Do not ignore clicking after recent tyre, brake, suspension or wheel work.
5. Listen for heavier knocks
Knocking may suggest suspension, steering, mount or wheel bearing wear.
6. Book a front-end inspection
A ramp inspection can confirm CV, steering, suspension and wheel-area faults.
Can clicking when turning affect MOT?
Yes, depending on the cause. The clicking noise itself is only a symptom, but MOT-relevant causes include split CV boots, excessive play in steering joints, worn ball joints, insecure suspension parts, loose wheel fittings and damaged components.
Useful MOT pages: can CV boot fail MOT?, can track rod end fail MOT?, can ball joint fail MOT? and can suspension fail MOT?.
Can you drive with a clicking noise when turning?
If the click is mild and only just started, you may be able to drive carefully for a short time, but the vehicle should be inspected soon. Avoid hard acceleration on full lock and avoid ignoring grease from a split CV boot.
Avoid continuing to drive if the clicking is loud, vibration appears, steering feels loose, the car pulls badly, there is visible grease from a split CV boot, or the noise started after wheel or suspension work.
Typical UK repair costs
CV boot replacement
Often cheaper if caught before the joint wears out.
CV joint or driveshaft
Moderate cost depending on vehicle, parts design and labour time.
Suspension or steering joint
Costs vary by component and whether wheel alignment is needed after repair.
Wheel fitting issue
May be simple if caught early, but unsafe if ignored.
Brake shield or clip
Often lower cost if the fault is minor and easily accessible.
Multiple front-end faults
Costs rise if tyres, suspension, steering and driveshaft faults are found together.
Early inspection can reduce cost, especially if only the CV boot is damaged and the joint is still healthy.
Clicking noise when buying a used car
A clicking noise on a test drive is worth taking seriously. It may be a simple boot issue, but it can also mean a CV joint, driveshaft or suspension repair is needed soon.
- ✓Turn full lock both ways in a safe car park and listen for repeated clicking.
- ✓Check for grease around the front wheels and arch liners.
- ✓Ask whether any driveshaft, CV boot or suspension work has been done.
- ✓Check the MOT history for CV boot, suspension or steering advisories.
- ✓Do not ignore clicking that the seller describes as “normal”.
Before buying, read used car inspection checklist, used car test drive checklist and how to check MOT history before buying a car.
Related steering, suspension and noise guides
Frequently asked questions
Why does my car click on full lock?
A worn outer CV joint is one of the most common causes, especially if the clicking is repeated and happens during slow tight turns.
Can a split CV boot cause clicking?
Yes. If grease escapes, the CV joint can dry out, collect dirt and start clicking as it wears.
Is clicking when turning dangerous?
It can become dangerous if linked to drivetrain, steering, suspension or wheel fitting faults. Loud or worsening clicking should be inspected.
Can wheel bearings click when turning?
Wheel bearings more often hum or rumble, but wheel-area faults should still be checked if the noise changes while turning.
Should I replace the whole driveshaft?
Sometimes, but diagnosis should confirm whether the CV boot, CV joint or complete driveshaft is actually needed.
Can clicking when turning fail an MOT?
Yes, if the cause is a split CV boot, steering play, suspension wear, loose wheel fitting or another safety-related defect.
Why does it click after hitting a pothole?
A pothole can damage wheels, tyres, suspension joints, steering parts or disturb worn components that were already weak.
Best next step?
Check for grease or split CV boots, note which direction causes the click, and book a front suspension, steering and driveshaft inspection.