1. Jack up the car and put it on stands. Turn the steering wheel all the way out and slowly rotate the front wheel, visually assessing the condition of the rubber protective cover of the outer CV joint of the drive shaft, periodically opening the corrugation folds. The presence of cracks, tears and signs of aging of the material can lead to the development of lubricant leaks, which are fraught with moisture and dirt getting inside the hinge and premature wear of the latter. Evaluate the reliability of fastening the cover with metal bandage tapes. Repeat the test for the outer CV joint of the second drive shaft, then evaluate the condition of the inner CV joints. Defective covers must be replaced without fail.
2. At the same time, you should evaluate the general condition of the hinges themselves, for which grab the drive shaft and try to rotate the wheel (outer CV joint), then grasp the inner CV joint and try to rotate the shaft. The presence of any noticeable play indicates wear of the corresponding hinge, splines of the drive shaft trunnion or loosening of the fixing nut.