Carry out check on trouble in joint (8)
I believe the answer is:
dovetail
'joint' is the definition.
(I know that dovetail is a type of mortise and tenon)
'carry out check on trouble' is the wordplay.
'carry out' becomes 'do' (synonyms).
'check' becomes 'vet' (I've seen this in other clues).
'on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'trouble' becomes 'ail' (synonyms).
'do'+'vet'+'ail'='DOVETAIL'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for dovetail that I've seen before include "Joint with fan-shaped tenon" , "Wood joint" , "Violated (anag) -- mortise joint" , "Fit snugly" , "good joint" .)