Tools for CV joint replacement

[zogster]

Hi all,

I'm planning to change my CV joints (the famous clicking sound has been bugging me for a while...), a first for me, and I need a bit of help tracking down one of the right tools.

I have the correct 12-point driver for the bolts, but what I can't find are pliers for the snap ring... the notes I've read about the job refer to external snap-ring pliers, specifically not round-tipped circlip pliers, but all of the pliers I can find appear to have round tips and not undercut tabs with a rectangular cross-section as described. (There's a reference to a Snap-On part number PR-40, but I can't find those either.)

Any suggestions for where to pick these up and what specifically I should be asking for? I'm in the UK, BTW

Regards

Paul

[zogster]

Should have added... it's a 1987 944 Turbo.

[mikepellegrini]

Here's a link to the procedure at Clark's: http://www.clarks-garage.com/shop-manual/susp-01.htm

Make sure you wake-up the bolts properly (by banging on them) before you attempt to break them.

[josephsc]

I'm in the states, and I found a "snap ring plier" aka "circlip plier" with removable heads at my local hardware store. With removable heads, you can use them both externally and internally -- and you have different sizes and angles to choose from. It looks just like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-G8069-Circlip-Plier-Set/dp/B0000DD6Y7/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1243545284&sr=1-6

That said -- unless you really want to save money and have nothing better to do on your weekends -- you'll be much happier replacing the entire rear half-axles, than replacing just the CV joints (half-axles comes with new CV joints). You just need the cheeseheads (12-points) to replace the whole thing.

[Icey1174]

VW has the same half axle for a fraction of the price with the CV joints. I do not know the part number, but I did read about it here a couple years ago.

[zogster]

I picked up a pair of 'circlip pliers' with 4 heads that looks very much like those, but all the heads have rounded tips, which the Clark's Garage notes and others suggest are just what will make the rings fly off into a corner!

I'm a bit torn between doing half-axles or the whole job - I know axles would be easier, but I do want to keep the cost down. Managed to get a decent quote from a supplier in the US, but it would still end up being about 50% more expensive than buying CVs over here once I pay import duty and tax.

[zogster]

Quick thought: in the absence of the part number, does anyone know what VW model/year would have the same drive shafts?

[zogster]

think I have my solution - Euro Car Parts have the whole drive shaft for less than some Porsche parts specialists sell a pair of CV joints. Not quite as cheap as US suppliers, but £117 is way cheaper than anyone else I've found in the UK... I'll do it the easy way.

[jcpyor]

The round tips I had in the selection with the set of pliers I purchased worked just fine when replacing the CV on my 911SC, CAN'T be that different!