CV Joint alighment

[SteveOS3]

I've just replaced worn cv joints and had the diff overhauled. Refitting has gone fine but one problem remains; the o/s driveshaft seems to be 'throwing'. We have the car up in the air and when the shaft rotates you can see it moving side to side. Not by a lot but notably more than the nearside one.

The cv joints are new as are the bolts securing them to the diff and hub flanges. They were both bought via links on this forum so I guess they have been used before without problems.

I can't see any way that the cv joint can be aligned other than just refitting the bolts.

When the bolts are fitted, but slack enough to allow some movement, there is enough travel in the cv joint to move it level to the edge of the driveshaft flange on one side, about 1mm, with a consequent lip on the other. I've tried centering it as best I can so that the lip on the flange is equal all round but still get the throwing.

My feeling is that the bolts may be too thin.

I don't know what to look for next. Any ideas would be welcome.

Thanks,

Steve

[glenrobbo]

Steve, how do the new bolts compare alongside the new ones?

Have you assembled the new CV joints the correct way round?
From memory, there is a slight difference on the faces which could possibly prevent the flange seating properly.

I'm just off out now, but I could investigate further tomorrow if you haven't resolved it by then.

Is it possible that this particular new CV joint has been drilled slightly eccentrically?

[SteveOS3]

The old bolts have probably been melted down.... they had to be cut off with an angle grinder and got thrown away.

I'll take the driveshafts back out and compare the faces to see if I can spot a difference.

Many thanks,

Steve

[phillpot]

SteveOS3 said:

When the bolts are fitted, but slack enough to allow some movement, there is enough travel in the cv joint to move it level to the edge of the driveshaft flange on one side, about 1mm, with a consequent lip on the other. I've tried centering it as best I can so that the lip on the flange is equal all round but still get the throwing.

Both sides?

[zombeh]

The CV joints should be 100mm OD, 32mm thick. The bolt holes should be 8mm and at 86mm pcd

Have you got ones with 10mm bolt holes?

[Alan Whitaker]

10mm bolts are for the 108 flanges and are not the same splines

[zombeh]

100mm joints are available with 8mm or 10mm bolt holes in 25,28 or 33 spline with various plunge depths depending on what they're for. (at least they are as gkn motorsport joints)

The 8mm bolt 25 spline joint is the normal one at 100mm but not the only one.

[SteveOS3]

After checking the posts I have the 100m, 86pcd, 32mm joints. I have M8 bolts.

Looking at the old one below I saw a groove around the edge that mated to the flanges. I fitted my new ones the other way round, thinking the groove was meant to sit inside the metal cap fixed to the boot.



We swapped the joints over on both sides but it made no significant difference. In fact, the n/s now has a bit more movement.

The max throw is 1mm approx measured by putting a centre punch on the joint as it rotates and seeing how far it moves vertically. The flanges don't record any significant movement.

After much fiddling we decided that as there was no marking on the joint or flange to show how/where it aligns then it doesn't matter too much...... So wheels onm tonight and out for a road test tomorrow.

Fingers crossed.

Thanks for everyone's help.

Steve

[SteveOS3]

Well, nothing fell off and there was no vibration from the CV joints.

New dampers need stiffening up and the ride height lowered a bit but so far all seems well.

Many thanks again for everyone's help.

Steve