Clicking noise under '91 CQ when turning

[Huw Powell]

I do have to admit to being spoiled.

1. pop hubcap, loosen axle bolt 1/2 turn
2. raise car on lift
3. remove wheel and axle bolt
4. drop ball joint using control arm tool
5. swing bearing housing out and remove axle from it
6. remove CV joint per manual instructions
7. cut off old boot
8. clean CV joint
9. repack
10. install new boot using supplied clamp rings and clamp ring tool
11. reassemble (torque axle bolt on ground - really should replace it)
12. wash hands and test drive

That's about an hour, taking one cigarette break.  But you will notice 
that I'm using a few tools most people don't have, all of which save 
considerable time.

However, the joint is clicking, it's bad and should be replaced. 
Nowadays that typically means R&Ring the whole axle with a reman unit, 
which is actually easier - instead of messing with the CV joint:

6. undo the six bolts at the inner end
7. skip to step 11 above

There is no need to do both sides, CV joints aren't like headlights, 
which have a fairly predictable lifespan, they fail randomly.

- Huw

> Dirty, greasy, and just plain unpleasant as the job is its still not a big job. Getting the axle out is cake and cleaning and regreasing/rebooting it takes an hour.
>
> -Cody Forbes (mobile)
>
> On Dec 6, 2013, at 8:15 AM, Grant Lenahan <glenahan at vfemail.net> wrote:
>
>> You enjoy removing, disassembling, and re-packing CV joints?
>>
>> really?
>>
>> If oyu hand it to someone else, nothing's a big job.

On 12/6/2013 11:29 AM, Andrew Buc wrote:
> On Dec 5, 2013, at 4:14 PM, Grant Lenahan wrote:
>
>> the CV joints, and its a big job. If its clicking, typically the joint
>> is failing.
>
> I would add: Don't procrastinate on getting it fixed, or you may be
> stranded. And if you're going to do one side, you might as well do both,
> just in case.
>
> Any BTDT on half-shafts from these folks?
>
> http://www.raxles.com/
>
> In my case a while back, the CV joint had failed and stranded me (I had
> procrastinated for a few weeks), so my garage used axles made by EMPI,
> which they could get immediately.
>
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