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I've moved on to replacing the CV joint boots, and I'm disassembling and cleaning the CV joints as part of the R&R. The first joint I've taken apart has a noticeable amount of play at one joint angle, and the outer race has a few grooves with noticeable (shallow) polished depressions worn in the groove. The play is not much at all, but it's there. No apparent wear on the balls or ball hub. The question is, how much play is too much? At the prices they charge for CV joints, I'd rather not replace them frivolously. My experience with FWD Rzeppa joints says this one is a close call, but seeing as how these plunge CV joints are a different design, I figured I'd ask the ACVW/T4 brain trust.

hallo mg , i have all, information for the cv joint dimention , if i remember i never send you that on your pm???? albert

If you've got information on maximum free play, that would be great Albert!

hi,mg go to see your , e,mail, albert

Well...that's not quite what I needed, but thanks in any case Albert. BTW, I'd run into that link before and saved the info in my "just in case" file.

MGVWfan wrote:I've moved on to replacing the CV joint boots, and I'm disassembling and cleaning the CV joints as part of the R&R. The first joint I've taken apart has a noticeable amount of play at one joint angle, and the outer race has a few grooves with noticeable (shallow) polished depressions worn in the groove. The play is not much at all, but it's there. No apparent wear on the balls or ball hub. The question is, how much play is too much? At the prices they charge for CV joints, I'd rather not replace them frivolously. My experience with FWD Rzeppa joints says this one is a close call, but seeing as how these plunge CV joints are a different design, I figured I'd ask the ACVW/T4 brain trust.

A little, minute amout of play is OK, alot IS NOT. I would slap them back together, lube em up, spend 5 days washing your hands and go cuss your brains out putting them back on the car.

Thanks DB...though installation doesn't look THAT bad. Pulling them took about an hour, and was much easier than any FWD MoPars I've done.

OK DB, I see what you mean...it's not installing the axles in the car, it's getting the @#$&%^#*#&%$ circlip to go into the *()(*#$Y(@^$()#@$(#@ groove on the end of the shaft when you reassemble the joint onto the shaft!

Any trick ways to get that thing in there?

That was me

OK DB, I see what you mean...it's not installing the axles in the car, it's getting the @#$&%^#*#&%$ circlip to go into the *()(*#$Y(@^$()#@$(#@ groove on the end of the shaft when you reassemble the joint onto the shaft!

Any trick ways to get that thing in there?

Anonymous wrote:OK DB, I see what you mean...it's not installing the axles in the car, it's getting the @#$&%^#*#&%$ circlip to go into the *()(*#$Y(@^$()#@$(#@ groove on the end of the shaft when you reassemble the joint onto the shaft!

Any trick ways to get that thing in there?

LMAO have you washed your hands 5 times yet?

I usually use my c clip pliers and open the clip up a little and slide it on.

Yeah, it's a GREASY job, but someone's got to do it! I've gone through a gallon of mineral spirits cleaning the gummy old nastiness out of the first two jonts.

My problem is getting the concave washer on the bottom of the hub compressed enough for the hub to clear the snap ring groove on top! Any ideas?

MGVWfan wrote:Yeah, it's a GREASY job, but someone's got to do it! I've gone through a gallon of mineral spirits cleaning the gummy old nastiness out of the first two jonts.

My problem is getting the concave washer on the bottom of the hub compressed enough for the hub to clear the snap ring groove on top! Any ideas?

damn dude, you have me there, all of mine I have done have gone right on. try disassembly and reassembly. MAybe tap around with a rubber mallet to make it seat all the way.

Put the snap ring on as far as you can get it, and then find a socket that will barely clear the shaft, but still contact the snap ring well. Rap on the socket good one time and you should be done. You can also use a soft drift against the snap ring to compress the washer.

When all else fails throw the washer out, it is not used on later applications, and you will frequently find them missing anyway. Somewhere in the back of my mind I seem to remember a VW service bulletin saying to do this.

Another hint is to not grease the CV joints until they are ready to go on the car. Just lightly coat the wear surfaces before assembly, but don't pack them until later.

As far as how much wear is too much, as a general rule if they run quiet they are all right. I have even taken noisy joints and forced a needle under the boot and pumped more grease into them, and then driven them tens of thousands of miles more.

I think I ended up taking mine to have them pressed down and installed!
So wildthing said there is a notice saying to not use thing,lol! It was a pain messing with the shafts and joints all greased up and then after getting back from the shop I had to redo the grease and reassemble the joints. Bill
p.s. I almost put the shaft under the car that was jacked up and used it as a press with the socket idea like wildthing,lol!

wildthings wrote: Another hint is to not grease the CV joints until they are ready to go on the car. Just lightly coat the wear surfaces before assembly, but don't pack them until later.

I like that idea, cuts out the multiple hand washings!