CV joint disassembly

jpnovak · 03-13-2002, 06:23 AM

In preparation for my first DE this weekend I am replacing the boots on my CV halfshafts. Removal went as planned. The joints came of the shafts with little effort. Next step was to remove the cage and balls for cleaning and new grease. The old grease is very hard and the joints are stiff.

I can not get them apart. How does one get them apart for cleaning? I checked the archives and it has been said to just push them out while pushing the inner race perpendicular to the flange. This does not work on my joints.

Thanks for your assistance.

GIBSON · GIBSON's Garage

Sounds like the old cv joint grease is the problem. This is where a parts washer comes in handy. A substitute could be a bucket with some kind of solvent (mineral spirits etc.). Let them soak to loosen up the caked-on grease and then remove it. Once the junk is gone the balls should move around more in the cage and housing. Then you can get things to come apart. Once there is no grease, they should move. Just remember to note the orientation of the cage/ housing.

Bruce Herrmann

john walker's workshop · 03-13-2002, 07:00 AM

the inner race and the cage need to rotate in the same direction to disassemble and reassemble. when reassembled, the narrow spacing between the balls on one race faces the wide spacing on the other race. if you get them wide to wide, they won't swivel, then to disassemble from this position, just the cage is turned.

Superman · 03-13-2002, 10:26 AM

Yeah, they come apart just one way, like a puzzle. Some of the older Bentley manuals (bugs and rabbits, and probably other cars also) have excellent descriptions and plenty of excellent pictures of this disassembly/reassembly procedure. Check used book stores.

Early_S_Man · 03-13-2002, 11:00 AM

OK, since the topic heading should show up in most searches ...

Here are the pages THAT ARE MISSING FROM YOUR BENTLEY MANUALS ... because of their lawyers , and their curent editorial policy that such matters are 'Beyond the Scope' of their $120 manual:

jpnovak · 03-13-2002, 11:20 AM

Its all much clearer now. I realize that I had not pressed the cap off the end off the outer ring. I guess I need to slide the joint back on the shaft to tap that off with a drift.

Thanks to Everyone for their help. Warren, a picture is worth...

Superman · 03-13-2002, 12:35 PM

Ah, the good old days...when beer was a dollar a six-pack, six dollars worth of gas would not physically fit into your 20 gallon tank, gas stations were called "service stations" and Bentley manuals were "complete."

rlane · 02-05-2006, 04:02 PM

Resurrecting an "oldie but goodie"
I had my CV's all apart for cleaning and replacement of boots. The ball cage (not the race) has distinct "faces". One is flat and the other is beveled. Looking at the intact axle it apears the beveled face faces out on the outboard side AND the inboard side. This seems a little odd. I have searched but have not seen this difference mentioned. You certainly can assemble the cage/balls/inner race hub either way.
Does anybody know why this is?

randywebb · 02-05-2006, 06:23 PM

WOw - 3 years old! It DOES have the pics of the CV joints in the repair manual, so that may help some new people. Thx.

Could that diff. be from the thrust?

rlane · 02-05-2006, 06:32 PM

On mine the thrust washer fits against the inner race hub, this different face is on the ball cage

rlane · 02-06-2006, 05:18 AM

As I reread this I see paragraph 4 under reassembly (just below illustration 3-23) mentions making sure the chamfer on the splines of the hub and the larger diameter portion of the outside ring are on the same side.
?? Not sure I am getting this.
Grady or other CV experts hopefully will chime in.

rlane · 02-06-2006, 03:47 PM

Superman.....Warren?

Huh · 02-06-2006, 04:37 PM

You can only assemble them one way. You can put them in backwards but they won't push in flush. Be careful though the bearings have a tendency to pop out when assembling.