Help! CV Joints or buy new driveshaft? CLACK CLACK NOISE :-(

[aogrady]

Hi!

Went for drive - clack clack clack noise from back end. It stops when I press the clutch down whilst moving. I guess the CV joints have gone. Now, do i buy new CV's and boots etc for £40 odd each, or just buy a new drive shaft complete with cv's fitted and new boots, well new everything for £101

Prices from VW Heritage:

Bolt, C.V. joint
893-407-237 12 @ £0.82 = £9.84

Spreader plate T2 cv bolt 3 per joint
211-501-357 6 @ £1.53 = £9.18

Drive axle with CV joints Not Automatics
211-501-203/V 2 @ £104.16 = £208.32

In Stock Goods Total: £227.34

Now, I can can new CV joint kits for £40 odd quid, so just over £160, as opposed to £227.
Only problem, i don't have a vice to start knocking old joints of the shaft, and i understand it's a right pig of a job - surely just fitting 2 brand new driveshafts all done has to be worth the extra outlay and less grief?

Anyone know the quality of the new driveshafts from VW Heritage, and does anyone else sell complete shafts?

And subject to buying new shafts - how easy to fit? Just unbolt old, bolt in new?

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[mattyd72]

Alistair,

I am trying to get my head around your problem, the main one being that the noise goes if you depress the clutch, the cv's are still moving at the same speed regardless of the clutch being on or off aren't they, however There may be slightly less actual force going through them.
Do they do it more under load or is it across all the range, i.e steady constant speed, light load, hard acceleration?

As for what you need to buy, you can reuse the bolts and the spreaders, the big thing is to ensure the washers are ok, they can't be flat as they should be slightly cured to push against the bolt, also make sure the torque is correct apart from that I would get the ends and a bloody big hammer!!

Matt

 

[aogrady]

Alistair,

I am trying to get my head around your problem, the main one being that the noise goes if you depress the clutch, the cv's are still moving at the same speed regardless of the clutch being on or off aren't they, however There may be slightly less actual force going through them.
Do they do it more under load or is it across all the range, i.e steady constant speed, light load, hard acceleration?

As for what you need to buy, you can reuse the bolts and the spreaders, the big thing is to ensure the washers are ok, they can't be flat as they should be slightly cured to push against the bolt, also make sure the torque is correct apart from that I would get the ends and a bloody big hammer!!

Matt

Hi!

Ok, i have noticed that the noise is worse (louder) when cornering, going round a roundabout for example. The noise is there from maybe 10-15mph?, Dont think it's there when going really slow, but you hear it more as you speed up. One doing 45 say, you dont hear it, but too much wind noise to say to be honest.

I dont have a torque wrench, will i not get away with a allen key and a hammer to loosen whilst the wheels are on the ground - or use the handbrake when jacked up?

I'm trying to opt for ease of fitting, and dont mind paying a little more for a full driveshaft to just bolt on with no worries. I'll still save from how much a garage would charge for rebuilding my old driveshafts.

Any ideas of the quality of said driveshaft?

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[mattyd72]

Alistair,

I am trying to get my head around your problem, the main one being that the noise goes if you depress the clutch, the cv's are still moving at the same speed regardless of the clutch being on or off aren't they, however There may be slightly less actual force going through them.
Do they do it more under load or is it across all the range, i.e steady constant speed, light load, hard acceleration?

As for what you need to buy, you can reuse the bolts and the spreaders, the big thing is to ensure the washers are ok, they can't be flat as they should be slightly cured to push against the bolt, also make sure the torque is correct apart from that I would get the ends and a bloody big hammer!!

Matt

Hi!

Ok, i have noticed that the noise is worse (louder) when cornering, going round a roundabout for example. The noise is there from maybe 10-15mph?, Dont think it's there when going really slow, but you hear it more as you speed up. One doing 45 say, you dont hear it, but too much wind noise to say to be honest.

I dont have a torque wrench, will i not get away with a allen key and a hammer to loosen whilst the wheels are on the ground - or use the handbrake when jacked up?

I'm trying to opt for ease of fitting, and dont mind paying a little more for a full driveshaft to just bolt on with no worries. I'll still save from how much a garage would charge for rebuilding my old driveshafts.

Any ideas of the quality of said driveshaft?

Cheers!

Alistair

Alistair,

It sounds from your description that the joints are probably dry, quite common on US imports as they chuck any old grease in to lubricate, not the correct graphite grease.
If it were me I would remove and try to repack them before buying new ones, but you may end up finding they are beyond help after all that work.
As for getting them off, you should use an hex drive on a ratchet as those buggers are on tight, just make sure they are all the same heads before you start as some came with spline drive bolts just to make things more entertaining when you get to the last one and find out that its different :?

I would say the quality of the new ones will be ok, the joints will be the same as if brought separately and the shafts themselves should be fine.

But the most important thing is to either beg, borrow or steal a torque wrench it is so important to get these right as too tight and the bolts could snap, too loose and it all goes pear shaped :lol:

Matt

 

[paul]

Mine made a similar noise a few years ago,had them repacked with grease and have been fine ever since!
Gotta be less money!!

 

[aogrady]

Hi!

Had a look, and at least one if not more of the boots have a small split in them, so maybe they are just knackered, I might spend out on fitting new boots only to find they are still noisy.
I'll try to jack it up, and turn the wheels see if i can hear or feel anything.

I'm sure they only started to make a noise when i bumped down the kerb, could be coincidence?

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[mattp]

Alistair,

It is nt difficult to remove the CV's, you'll need either a splined socket or allen head socket, ratchet/breaker bar and a willing assistant [or handbrake/wheel on (or) of the ground] to get the bolts off. A torque wrench is a good investment, just be sure to check the range as the cheap ones can be useless for most job and are best avoided.

As for removing and replacing the CV's, you need some time and a some circlip pliers. The CV's only go together one way around and are (shuld be) easy to the driveshafts -there should also be a concave washer under the CV

If you like I can bring you down* your old CV's which are servicable for you to clean and re-build, then bin the old ones and fit the (re-built) ones with new gaitors.

Also, re: gaitors, buy the best you can as have seen cheap ones last a very short time and fail, for the money I'd buy the best ones.


*Assumes the other half will allow the CV's in her car :lol:

 

[Austin]

i had the same thing with my 69 import, i've done cv's in the past, and i always end up thinking i wish i hadnt bothered!! i end up with grease everywhere, and dropping things with my slippy oil hands. Fine in a workshop, but not at home in my garage!!

I weighed up the pros and cons of this and had flashbacks of previous diy cv boot and joint fitting, and bought genuine and complete driveshafts ready to fit.

No mess, saved no end of time and didnt cost that much more either, and i know vw put it together not me!!

and as a bonus i still have the old shafts to "practice" putting on new boots if i ever feel the need!!

hope thsi helps.

 

[aogrady]

i had the same thing with my 69 import, i've done cv's in the past, and i always end up thinking i wish i hadnt bothered!! i end up with grease everywhere, and dropping things with my slippy oil hands. Fine in a workshop, but not at home in my garage!!

I weighed up the pros and cons of this and had flashbacks of previous diy cv boot and joint fitting, and bought genuine and complete driveshafts ready to fit.

No mess, saved no end of time and didnt cost that much more either, and i know vw put it together not me!!

and as a bonus i still have the old shafts to "practice" putting on new boots if i ever feel the need!!

hope thsi helps.

Hi!

Funny enough, after having a look at the driveshafts, and pushing the shaft in and out, the noise seems to have stopped on a 20 min run. So dunno whats going on there.

Have found splits in the boot, they do feel a little loose side to side play by turning the shaft, and looking at the pictures look like they have been on for a very long time.

Think will just get new shafts etc and be done with it. Where did you get you genuine ones from then?

Cheers!

Alistair

 

[Wannabay]

I'm with Austin on this re swapping in complete units
I got mine from JK - the more expensive of the 2 types

As for the noise stopping after pushing/pulling the driveshaft, I was told that this is because it helps the balls move back into their positions - the noise is due to the grease drying out and the balls slipping out of position in the CV joint. On the new driveshafts there is no play at all as compared with quite a few cms play on old ones

all the best

 

[aogrady]

I'm with Austin on this re swapping in complete units
I got mine from JK - the more expensive of the 2 types

As for the noise stopping after pushing/pulling the driveshaft, I was told that this is because it helps the balls move back into their positions - the noise is due to the grease drying out and the balls slipping out of position in the CV joint. On the new driveshafts there is no play at all as compared with quite a few cms play on old ones

all the best

Hi!

Cheers for that, that must be it, again over the weekend no noise, and then 2 hours into the journey, noise was there, again on the way home same noise, till the last part of the journey and they were quiet again.
Just seen the JK ones, will ring VW Heritage as they list a new driveshaft too, but don't know if they are genuine or not.

Alistair