Help Request: Left Rear CV Axle Grease loss

[pelsteve1]

So I was gearing up to swap out the spring/cylinder with the upgraded parts as I was getting low oil pressure light coming off the highway when having to stop at lights/stop signs. Was crawling under V-hicle and noticed alot of grease spray towards left rear inner CV axle area and traced it to the inner housing of the CV axle, specifically (I think), seeping through each layer from the inner bolted housing assembly located near 1 or 2 of the bolts, but not all. The problem is, I dont really know how much grease I loss. It is NOT the boot, it is fine.

In my notes, I see this axle had been replaced 7 years ago and as it turns out, I have a 2 spares on the shelf from when I rebuilt the one I pulled last time and I guess somehow picked up another along the way.

I rarely drive the vehicle, and don't recall noticing any performance issue along these lines, but have not actually taken it out in light of this new inspection and checked for any noise.

I suspect its just a matter of a loose bolt(s) which led to the grease loss.

My basic questions are"
a) do I really need to pull the damn thing out and repack and reassemble, or can I get away with just retorqing the allen bolts down.
b) And do these bolts require any loct-tite on them?
c) is there enough room to manipulate that housing, where I could actually loosen the entire assembly WITHOUT removing it (as well as the exhaust and other aspect to be even able to remove it), use a grease gun with an injection needed and resupply?
d) any other words of wisdom ?

thks

[JFP in PA]

A) Possilbly, depends upon how much lubricant was lost.
B) ABSOLUTELY.
C) Either do it correctly or take it to someone that will. CV grease is not the same as what you find in grease gun cartridges.
D) See the above .

[pelsteve1]

So I got into it. All the inner bolts were extremely loose (the boot was probably the only thing keeping them still in the hole), but I could see remnants of blue loctite. I was able to remove the 6 inner bolts and the 3 arc brackets and did an extensive clean, wire brush as well as goop (hand cleaner) and brake fluid in an ultrasonic bath with a parts cleaner spray rinse. I also cleaned out the receiving threads in both the axle and the receiving plate with spray solvent. I'm fairly confident that all those surfaces are quite clean for subsequent reassembly!
'
with regard to C) from above.. I'm debating either removing the large boot clamp and repacking from that opening, or knocking the end cap off and repacking from that side, maybe both??

It looks like there are cartridge based- moly grease systems for CV also. It seems I could even use the gun with some needles and just inject it and then RTV over the tiny hole in the boot? and not even have to take the boot clamp off.

thoughts? would either of these be viable approach, assuming the bearings are ok?
I'm old and this is quite the chore for me.

thks

[tonythetarga]

with regard to C) from above.. I'm debating either removing the large boot clamp and repacking from that opening, or knocking the end cap off and repacking from that side, maybe both??
So what did you do? I would remove the axle completely and repack both ends, meaning both boots, but that's me.
If you're taking the short cut, repack both ends of the inner boot from the end cap and the boot. You will need a clamp and tool to replace the clamp correctly.

[pelsteve1]

I'm currently mid process. I decided to bite the bullet and pull both axles as I suspected if one side was loose, so was the other, and indeed it was. I inspected all the boots and on the other side, there was some slight wear so decided to just replace all the boots as well, but this was not the core issue. I still have to order the boots.

In the mean time I'm tackling many other projects, include coolant flush, thermostat (maybe water pump), plugs, headlight gaskets, tranny fluid, PS fluid, brake fluid, drain hole cleaning, detailing and who knows what else I find along the way and maybe in the end, partial or full painting..so you may here from me again...joy

[pelsteve1]

So I was able to repack both inner and outer portions of both axles, and was able to remount one of the axles without too much headache, but for the life of me I simply can not get the passenger side axle back in. It splines in fine to the wheel hub from the outside (just checking to see if some issue mating up the spline), but from the inside, I simply can't get it back in. I'm really surprised I'm having so much trouble since the other side went smoothly enough.

Any thoughts on what I could be missing??

Also, do you know what the torque specs are supposed to be for the 6 inner bolts as well as the outer hub? (I currently have the inners torque to 43 ft-lbs.)

[pelsteve1]

Well, got the stubborn axle back in, was not easy. Alot of aggressive tapping from the inside.

Right now I'm maxed out on my torque wrench at 150 ft-lbs on the axle nut..
Did a short drive, seem to behave properly. Lugs at 100 ft-lbs.

Can someone tell me what spec is for that main axle nut? Debating whether just to give it a spin with the impact. But otherwise, think I'm good for this one...on to the next.

[tonythetarga]

340 ft-pds

[pelsteve1]

Yup, thank you kindly, torque wrench on order...