[Vwdiesel] CV-joint clapped out?
MLightner
mikel at buncombe.main.nc.us
Sat Jan 27 10:51:20 EST 2007
My 85 Jetta had one of those rubber and metal balancer thingies on the
long CV- joint assy., and it started moving around on it's own. When it
worked its way toward the outer end of the shaft it started making some
pretty omminous
(but sporadic) noises when it would bump into the A-arm, so I was really
relieved to find it to be the source of the noises.
The only tool that would easily get to it with the front wheels on a
ramp was a small angle grinder, so I had at it - since the balancer kept
trying to get away from the grinder, I felt I was doing pretty good not
to be grinding things that didn't need grinding, and I got it off
without too much trouble. However, the grinder did take one unwelcome
bounce that cut through the small end of the inboard CV boot.... gear
oil quickly started pouring out of the boot, at first I couldn't believe
it...
Long story short, got a new boot, took the inner joint loose and found
that the cap-like seal that is in the CV flange had come unseated from
it's usual place - it didn't look damaged in any way, and 'seems' to be
solidly back in place now.
Since I had the joint off I was able to check the flange for slop -
Yaaay!, I finally found a non-clapped out part (well, maybe I
exagerate a bit some times), not a bit of wiggle to it. The boot kit I
got for it had too small a C-clip, but I was able to reuse the old one.
I just wonder how long the joint had been running in gear oil - there
wasn't a trace of grease left in there and there was (is) some spalling
at the contact points on the inner donut of the cv joint, but all the
balls and the outer donut bearing surfaces look pretty decent. Anyway,
now back together with a new boot and fresh grease, hope it lasts awhile.
Couple Q's:
1) I got the boot kit at the local O'reillys, and there was only
one kit listed for it, which had a somewhat smaller c-clip, and the
small end of the boot was considerably smaller than that of the
original, probably about 6mm smaller; it stretched enough to go on
without too much extra effort. So, I'm wondering what I need to specify
in order to get the right kit.
2) Is it common for those cap seals in the flange to come unseated?
Thanks for any ideas, suggestions, comments and such. I'm told that the
P.O . bought this vehicle from someone who had a lot of Jettas and other
VW products, so I'm beginning to develope a 'mongrelization theory'
about it.
Mike in NC
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