On a Mk2 MR2. When I move off in a forward gear, I get a huge clunking and the whole back end of the car shakes. The drivers side rear wheel seems to be the main one effected, it skips and locks with the clunking. The whole engine moves violently. When the clunking happens, the car gives you no drive. As soon as you let the clutch out and you get a violent clunking.

If I put it in reverse, I get a clunk/wheel skip as whatever it is sorts itself out then it's fine in reverse.

I thought it was the gearbox and replaced it. I'm quite annoyed that it wasn't, real b1tch of a job that.

I'm thinking maybe it's the CV joint now? Is that possible?

 

Ignore me! LOL!

 

yes

its suprising how much noise & jumping a little joint can make it feels like the engine is trying to escape

 

I hope it is just a CV joint. How do you check them? Does it make sense that it'd be fine in reverse but not when going forward?

 

they can be ok one way & not the othere depends what has gone on it

just get the shaft out & check it for free play (twist) in the joints

 

In reply to your thread title !

Can a CV Joint failing cause you to lose all drive?

Yes if you are not running an LSD

 

Check the diff too

 

Yes they can - I had one go on my Clio - boot split & the joint ran dry & I honestly thought the wheel was going 2 fall off!!!

 

Thats what I originally said but its an MR2 & as they are rear/mid engined so will be part of the gearbox!!

 

The diff is built into the gearbox and i've swapped that already. I've not got an LSD. Think i'll look out for a replacement driveshaft. Wish i'd done this before I swapped the gearbox...

 

Before you source a driveshaft - make sure you know which one is fucked - I thought the nearside wheel was going to fall off when in actual fact it was the offside driveshaft that was fucked - i took it off & the hub end was permanently bent - it took alot of effort & put it straight....

 

I had the other driveshaft out when I swapped the box, it seemed fine to me. The one I think is faulty looked fine too.

The car will drive for a little bit before it locks up so I guess it's hard to tell. There is no obvious signs anything was wong with either, but I suppose it's hard to tell unless when they are not under load.

The biggest pain in the arse is I had a pair of driveshafts and grinded through them when removing the gearbox from my spares car.

 

 

Didnt know that, apolgies!!