RE: CV joint assembly

["Hare,Stott (X)" <HAREST@allenbrook.iix.com>]

Just a further clarification or simplification on Steve's note:
If you look at the outer and inner bearing races, you'll notice that
the distance between the actual bearing 'channels' alternates
between wide and narrow.  The secret to the Chinese puzzle of
reassembly is this: if there is a wide space between the channels
on the outer races, then you need to have a narrow space
between the channels on the inner race.  Match wide to narrow
and vice versa...

As a side note, some people (stimpy) find it easier if you apply a
small amount of CV grease the the channels and the bearings prior
to reassembly.  Messier, but provides a measure of lubrication and
adheasion. ie ball bearings don't go jumping out quite as easily!

Good luck.
-S

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	steveb@falcon.kla-tencor.com [SMTP:steveb@falcon.kla-tencor.com]
> Sent:	Monday, October 27, 1997 3:57 PM
> To:	Hare,Stott (X); quattro@coimbra.ans.net;
> fixitman@internetmci.com
> Subject:	Re: CV joint assembly
> 
> 
>  # I am in the process of replacing the inner cv boot on my '86 5kcs
> (for
>  # the second time in 3 years) only this time, as I disassembled the
> joint
>  # (on my workbench) cleaned the grease out, then attempted to put the
>  # joint together again, the Audi gods did not cooperate again with
> me.  It
>  # seems either the joint has miraculously changed in size or there is
> only
>  # 1 way that the joint goes together.  When I put the bearings in,
> the
>  # joint is so tight that is does not move at all.  The bearings are
>  # binding with the outer and inner race (the cage is freely moving).
> So I
>  # am lost!  Any ideas?
>  # 
> ... I'm wondering if you didn't happen to assemble the CVJ
> incorrectly.  
> I don't know if I'm understanding your situation fully, but let me ex-
> plain what happened to me.  The grooves in the outer and inner
> portions 
> of the CVJ are not all aligned, but they alternate angles with each 
> slot in the joint.  When assembled correctly, each ball slides in a 
> groove of one orientation in the inner half and one of the opposite 
> orientation in the outer half.  I think this design ensures that the 
> balls actually move in the grooves as the CVJ moves in and out.  I 
> assembled the joint such that the grooves lined up in the top and 
> bottom ... and the joint lock in one place.  It took some doing to 
> get it apart, wiggling, twisting, etc. (no hammers), and then I 
> assembled it correctly.  The thing has worked fine ever since, and 
> AAMOF is installed on the car.
> 
> HTH!
> Steve Buchholz
> San Jose, CA (USA)