Axle & CV joint Help

[chrispitman]

Just replaced the 4 CV boots, took the axles off 12 Alen bolts and removed the 2 lower hub bolts to get them out all went well removed Cir clips and got cv joints off fitted new boots and put back on car. One side is fine other side when I roll car theres a thud can feel it holding tyre rocking car back and forward, any ideas what I've done to cause this?

Not done these before should I have marked the cv to axle alignment or position ?? There in the same way with regards correct cv to hub and diff read something about torsion in the axles due to use.

[QBee]

Did you also do the thud test prior to the boot change?

[Richard 858]

I was advised to mark mine up prior to removal so as to ensure marrying up the splines exactly as they were before refitting, consequently I've never had any noise or play issues.

[chrispitman]

It was fine before I took off the cv's which was why I was wondering if they had to be alinged, yet other side seems fine.

[Ozstyle]

Hi,

fairly sure I read somewhere when removing a drive shaft (when replacing CV boots or joints etc) it's important to fit the drive shafts back to the same side and with the correct orientation, i.e the diff end to the diff and wheel hub to wheel hub end. Something about over time the stresses incurred through the drive shaft influence the metallurgy, metal grain boundary stresses etc etc, not sure if that's a load of balls, but nothing to lose by doing so.
If you disassembled your CV joints to regrease them it is possible to reassemble them incorrectly which can cause binding issues.

Oz

[chrispitman]

Ok Thanks

They are in the same way they came out marked diff end cv so thats correct, only thing I didn't do was mark the cv to axle splines will take it off and have a look.

[N7GTX]

It sounds more likely that you have not got one of the joints seated correctly in the hub or against the diff drive. If refitting old CV joints then they must be the in the same place. Jack the car up and spin the wheel by hand and see if you can see the misalignment.

[chrispitman]

Its only doing it when on the ground if jacked up it stops. So an alignment issue

So should I have marked the cv and spline position prior to removing re fitting?

[N7GTX]

The spline position is not important but the orientation of a used CV joint is as it will wear accordingly.
Think I would be undoing the boots and having a look to ensure the joint is correctly seated and the circlip is in the right place in its groove.
Perhaps the joint has become 'cockled' - perhaps you have tilted the two parts and one or more of the balls is stuck? - effectively lengthening the shaft so when you lower it it is too long?

[lwt]

Not sure how you can roll the car using just one side only, but FYI I had a similar sounding graunch when I did mine and found that I had refitted the exhaust with new hangers in such a way that one of the propshaft UJs touched the main silencer box. Sounded and felt awful but easily fixed with the help of a Birmingham screwdriver.