CV Joint Cancave Washer

[vol96]

I searched and read many posts. Several mention this concave washer that goes behind the cv joint, but none mention which way it goes.

It looks like it should point outward. But when I try it that way I cant get the circlip in. When I point it inward, I can get the circlip in but it seems a little loose.

This may be in-consequential but I would like to get the cv's back together correctly. When dis-assembled them the circlips were loose, but I 'm not sure they should be.

Thanks in advance.
Joe

[Jdub]

I am almost positive this washer goes in with the bowl shape towards the CV joint, but I am hoping someone else pipes in here - it's a good question and I cannot quite remember how my CVs went back together a few months back.

John

[Eugene at Pelican Parts]

John is correct. At least that's how they're installed on my axles.

[stevef]

That's how they were on mine when I did them 4 weeks ago. I assume the outside diameter of the washer was putting a little preload on the inner race and the circlip to keep everything tight.

[chrisp]

Yup mine were concave towards the joint...meaning the outer edge will contact the CV joint and the inner edge butts up aginst the shoulder on the axle.

[xlr8]

install with concave facing CV joint - Bentley Carrera Service Manual 420-22

[vol96]

Well then how do you get the circlip in? Did you use some kind of press to push the cv joint in so the circlip will slid into the groove or was hand pressure enuf? I've already tried hand pressure and it wasnt enuf, still had about half the thickness of the circlip overlapping the groove.

[no substitute]

Are you installing new CV's, or re-installing the old ones?

The concave washers are .060 in. thick, and the circlip is .075. Could a PO have used hardware store circlips on a previous install? Just a guess, but worth checking. The circlips are a snug fit, and have to be tapped in place, to my experience.

[stevef]

I had to use a hollow drift just to tap down on the inner race to be able to get the circlip to seat. An old socket would do, just large enough to clear the torque tube and circlip diameter.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by stevef
. An old socket would do, just large enough to clear the torque tube and circlip diameter.

that's what I had to do. and I had to really slam it.

[chrisp]

The circlips are thicker than the average dime store (Home Depot) circlip and are metric sized. Best to get them from our host. They are not even available from Grainger, MSC, or McMaster in our size. Using the home depot variant may 1.)compromise the snug fit between CVJ and axle, 2.)compromise the strength that is required to keep the CVJ on the axle should any high side loading take place and 3.)compromise the ability for the retaining clip to stay in it's groove under high axle rpm/high wheel speeds. Our thicker retaining clip handles almost twice the shear load and rpm-before-expansion than the standard thickness clip does.

I palced a socket as you guys did with the retaining ring in place. By hammering (I mean HAMMERING!) the socket the circlip will find the groove.

[vol96]

Thanks for the info guys. With the joint fully assembled and the circlip in place, I put one of the other inner races on the axle and beat it with a rubber mallet. Got 3 to seat that way. Will use a socket for the fourth.

Couldnt find one of the concave washer that was missing when I dis-assembled the joints and our host doesnt sell them seperatly. So I plan to use a standard flat washer from hardware store with similar thickness. Dont want to buy a complete cv or axle so this will have to do for now.