C.V. Joint Noise. intermittent

[Frank B]

I have an intermittent noise coming from the right rear whell area.. sort of a clunk when I accelerate. I've only heard it once for .. maybe 5 minutes, then it stopped. Was it a C.V. joint?.. or should I smoke a joint and ignore it?.. all suggestions are welcome.

Frank B

[afx]

I have pretty much the same thing going on. It will clunk under acceleration sometimes, and then sometimes not. I am pretty sure that it is the CV joints, but I am just waiting to fix then until after I fix my engine.

[SoCal Driver]

Could be the CV joints.

They look like this when they get "well used":

[Frank B]

OH!.. mhmmm.. I see..
well, could it be my rear axle?.. maybe?.. or a lack of grease somewhere in the rear?....

Frank B

[SoCal Driver]

There are four of these CV joints. One at each end of the two axles. They have billow covers over then. They are greased with molybdenum. They are held in place with six bolts. They should be removed, checked and re greased at 30,000 mile intervals.

If not maintained they have a tendency to clatter going around corners.

Most likely yours have never been removed and inspected.

The transmission/differential holds about two quarts of lube. If it's low the differential starts to howl.

Two CV joints on one axle about $180.

One rebuilt transmission $1,200.

Preventive maintenance, priceless.

[todwic]

Originally posted by Frank B
Was it a C.V. joint?.. or should I smoke a joint and ignore it?.. all suggestions are welcome.

Frank B

I am hard pressed to see where you can go wrong with pursuiing both routes here. Wait...I only see one plan of action there...go rasta till da babylon, him come callin.

You need a cheese head (8 mm I think) socket to yank those 12 or so bolts that hold the c.v. joints on. Pull em one side at a time (try not to let them dangle, they can come apart on you, and they only go tegether one way, though you'll swear you almost have it with 7 other combinations) Look at em. Socal gave you a cleaned up pic, if any look like that, order new ones. If they have plenty of grease, no catches or worn places evident to your visual inspection, slap a hand full on good c.v. joint grease in it and bolt it back on. They recoment you use brand new bolts when you put it back together, but at a $1.30 a bolt X 12 X 2 X 2=they can kiss my ass. I've used the old bolts with no ill effects for the better part of a year. Repeat with the other 3 joints.

Kragen (a nat'l chain discount part store) carried the right c.v. joints for my '84, and I have a sneaking suspission that VW joints will fit. Kragen c.v. was @ $50 or so, Axle not included. save the circlip. Save the old parts, the outer hub ring makes a dandy paper weight.

Light joint, enjoy your day.

[SoCal Driver]

Originally posted by todwic
[BSave the old parts, the outer hub ring makes a dandy paper weight. [/B]

And the steel balls make great Wham-O sling shot ammo!!!

Have to put heavy surgical tubing on it.