how would you know your CV joints are worn?

[Doris]

just stripped mine down,cleaned de & re greased mine,but got me thinking about how you'd know if they were knackered if you never removed them. on a front wheel drive car,you hear them click as your turn,but obviously you won't get that on a bus.you only find out at the point when the bearing colapsed and they seized? or is there tell tail signs that they're worn out?..just wondered!!!

 

[noddy]

If the ball bearing have any surface pitting, are loose in the cage, or they rumble when wheel is spun when jacked up.

Just a note if youve cleaned and repacked them, they make a bit more noise initially, I think this is due to the bearings going back in to different places in the cage (dont mix parts from different CV's), it settles down after about 200 miles.

 

[Doris]

Thanks noddy. I kept all 4 seperate but did mix up the balls within each individual cage.still has the OG VW boots on with the seperate cap onto the outer bearing case. they seemed ok when driving,I only stripped them really to paint the drive shaft,thought I might as welll clean and re grease while I was there. you do get the odd 'tight' spot when turning them by hand but they're not greased yet,just coated in WD40 until re fitting.

Thanks again matey!

 

[noddy]

The tight spot issue, simple answer is yes, but it is possible to re-assemble them incorrectly so they lock up, cage on the wrong way round is the cause.

I would spin the wheels buy hand off the floor before you drive the van after fitting just to check every thing spins ok.