CV Joint Time!!

Dave951M · 06-09-2001, 02:57 PM

I'm almost positive that my right side cv joints are about toast. There is a metallic clicking sound on accel, deccel with the clutch engaged. The sounds are not present with when the clutch is depressed. I jacked up the rear end and checked the boots, no cracks or splits. Previous documentation showed cv joints done at about 50k. The car has 130k now. I still think they're goners. From searching the archives, I think someone was tracking down a VW/Audi joint that is a direct replacement. Any luck on that front. Is the joint on the turbo the same as any other post 85.5? Help would be appreciated.

Dave951M
Clicking and Clinking away.

88_944 · 88_944's Garage

I had a 83 944 and it had that same sound. It was a bad trans. I hope its not for you.

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PORSCHE There is no Substitute!

Dave951M · 06-09-2001, 03:13 PM

From what I've read in the archives and my past experience as a Fiat wrench working on X1/9s, it is most likely the cv joints. Trans feels fine and shifts fine, there is a shudder while under heavy acceleration (moi? plant it? whatever for?)

The symptoms are classic cv joint. Just looking for the cheapest way to do it effectively.

Dave951M

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Rebuild them. If you have worked on Fiats then nothing in this world should challenge you. Rebuilding CV's is ten times easier than a clutch job on the average Fiat. You just have to open the cups, remove the caster bearings and replace them. I purchased the rebuild kit from a Napa, I think the kit crossed over to an Audi as well. So "technically" there should be a crossover part out there.

Dave951M · 06-10-2001, 06:27 AM

A friend on mine owned a business rebuilding cv joints, there's no mystery to it, just a bit greasy. I'll try NAPA today to get the bearings. The interesting thing I found in the archives is the 12pt 8mm tool is the same as used on VW and on Pinto oil pumps. Why should I pay $20+ just because it says Porsche? I also have a pair of the snap ring pliers, luckily, those weren't among the stuff I sold when I quit wrenching and the kids haven't lost them. My box will be locked from now on since I have found most of the tools they walked off with and never put back.

Dave951M

[This message has been edited by Dave951M (edited 06-10-2001).]

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

Yea your right on the 12 point tool. I found them at Tool King for $1.89. Listed as "Pinto Oil Pump Tool." Just to be safe I grabbed three of them.

Dave951M · 06-10-2001, 10:11 AM

Clutch on a 124/131 is pretty easy really. The key is to get it up at the right height. The real b!tch one is the X1/9, since it envolves removing much of the rear suspension. The easiest way I found to do an 850 or 600 is to remove the engine instead of the tranny. I'm going shopping this afternoon for the "special" tool to do the job, what the heck, I need some oil too. Tomorrow, I'll call a local wrench I know and ask him about a VW/Audi cross reference. Is there such a publication for Porsche/VW/Audi? It could save beaucoup bucks on parts or maybe Porsche doesn't want you to know about it. My car is an 86 951, I hope the Audi part is the same.

Dave951M

Magnus_944 · 06-10-2001, 11:27 AM

What year are your car? Found this list at: http://bjoels.gurksallad.org/porsche924.html

Most 924/944/951 CV joints are nothing more than type 4 VW bus joints. Here is the details:

Here is the PN for the 924 CV joints 113.501.331D

Here is what it fits:
924 '76-82
924S
944 '83-89
944S '87-'88
944T '86-early 87 to chassis #95HN151524
VW Type 4 Bus
VW Type 411

/Magnus

Dave951M · 06-10-2001, 01:03 PM

TNX for the info. My 951 is an 86 model. Not sure of the manufacture date, never checked. I just got back from Auto Zone and they had the infamous wrench in a set with 6, 8, 10, and 12mm for $12.99. They are the "long" type so they will clear the boots nicely. I'm going to lube and rotate the joints tonight. Tomorrow, I'll check on the availability of the VW p/n. Time to get greasy.

Dave951M

BTW- My wife's family is Swedish, her mom still speaks some, grandma was fluent, grandpa barely spoke English. I have never learned to like sill though

[This message has been edited by Dave951M (edited 06-10-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Dave951M (edited 06-10-2001).]

Magnus_944 · 06-11-2001, 12:26 PM

Well, I don't like sill either.

/Magnus

Ven · 06-11-2001, 01:02 PM

Well I did both joints on the passenger side. It took about an hour to get the old ones out and new ones in. You know you dont even have to take off the tire to do them.

Dave951M · 06-11-2001, 03:09 PM

I took the axle off last night, cleaned out the housings on the wheel and tranny, repacked as much grease as I could into the cv joints and rotated them. The noise went away till this afternoon. I think I have to do something now.

Scott- how much was the kit at NAPA? I work very near the regional warehouse and that would be pretty quick.

Then again, the VW part may be the most cost effective route since I won't have to rebuild them. Has anyone used the VW joint on a 951? If it's a direct bolt up, is it the same as the Lubro joint?

While I was under the car, I removed the wheel and did a major clean up job underneath. I can't stand to work on a filthy car. Looks rather odd now with the rear passenger side very clean and degreased and the driver side covered in road grunge.

Guess I need to get the yin and yang in balance and do the driver side too.

Dave951M
With Grease under the fingernails

Dave951M · 06-12-2001, 06:24 PM

The scoop thus far. The VW pn is obsolete according to the local dealer. The part is now sold only as a complete axle for $200+. No rebuild kits were listed and even the axle was a reman. Calls to parts houses that carry foreign parts for VW Type 4 Bus joints- may as well buy Porsche, they were within $5 of each other. Called NAPA, Bubba Duh answered the phone. This guy had never heard of x referencing parts! And he even had the gall to ask if it was a CHEVY@!

I'm about at the point I'll trade my 40IDF Webers for a full set of cv joints, no wait-- it passed, gonna keepem.

Scott R- what model Audi or other car did you give the duh patrol at NAPA to get a rebuild kit? This is getting frustrating.

Thanks for all the info, if I could only use it down here.

Dave951M

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

The kit was for a 85.5 Porsche. I may have to stop by and get the part number for you. I remeber the guy had to look in one of the books he had on his shelf, and not in the computer. The Napa by my house is a a huge Napa with a machine shop attached to it. Do you also have Carquest out where you are at? I have picked up many CV and caliper rebuild kits from them. But I know what you mean. When you walk into the parts store for anything besides a Chevy 350, they never know what your talking about.

Dave951M · 06-12-2001, 09:18 PM

We have a pretty good CarQuest here. The clerk I dealt with for some obsolete Ford parts did a good job and the parts were fairly cheap (inexpensive). The NAPA that I use is like yours. It's the regional warehouse, complete with machining services. I'll check CQ tomorrow and NAPA as well. Don't mind getting grease under the fingernails and I'm starting to suffer 951 withdrawal. I've parked the problem child since cv joint failure can be a major disaster.

Dave951M

Dave951M · 06-13-2001, 01:52 PM

Went to NAPA today. None of the parts books I looked through had a rebuild kit for the 86 944 Turbo CV joint. The other makes were strike outs too. I did find that CarQuest has the entire axle assembly for $68 exchange. If I find that the rebuild kits are in the $20+ range, then it's worth it to me to go ahead with the axle from them. All I have to do is bolt it up.

Dave951M