84 Carrera CV joints

[DJbrand1]

Does anybody have experience repacking CV joints? My passenger side axle needs to be cleaned a re-greased as it doesn't move as freely as the driver side. The boots look fine.

[Vidal]

Adam, I don't have any experience to offer here, but I too would very like to learn how best to do this. Any chance I can observe whenever you do this?

[michael lang]

this is probably one of the easiest things to do. there are 6 (if I remember correctly) allen bolts on the trans side and there is a 32mm nut on the hub side of the axle. start by loosening the nut at the hub the wheel on the ground. some guys will use various techniques as it is very tight (320ft/lbs torque)so you will have to use some type of breaker bar for leverage. once it is loose, then start on the allen bolts on the transmission. once that is completed, it just comes out. warning: be very careful not to remove the bearings from the housing when you clean them. the best way to do it is remove the boots and put the axle shaft in a parts washer. if you don't have one, then pay someone (machine shops have awesome equipment) it will be alot cheaper than having to buy new axle shafts. lastly, make sure that you get the rear hub nut back to 320ft/lbs of torque. there is a ton of information on pelican about just this subject.

 

[ccm911]

Michael - Great advice, but you left out the most important disclaimer. You neglected to mention that this is the dirtiest job known to man.

And if Adam only needs to do the inside, there is no need to remove the axle nut.

When I did mine, I just cleaned it up the best I could, and then jammed in as much grease as possible. Not a hard job at all.

[michael lang]

Well Chris, I figured I'd save that little surprise for him to find out on his own. Kinda like doing the tranaxle fluid for the first time, once it gets on your hands it's all over the place.
The way I see it, if you're going through the trouble of getting the transaxle side bolts out, you might as well take the whole thing out and rebuild both ends. A machine shop will have a good parts dishwasher big enough to hold the whole axle shaft.

[DJbrand1]

Yeah, I've done a couple before on an old VW,that grease just gets everywhere. Anyone know of local machine shop in the Philly / King of Prussia area? Thanks.