CV joints

[Tobs]

In the process of re-assembling my car after a body off refurb. Now working on the driveshafts. How much radial play (if any) should there be in the CV joints?

They all bar one, seem to have a slight radial play. It is more something I can just feel when holding the drive shaft and twisting the outer part of the joint.

Wondering if they could do with replacing or to just go with them. The initial idea before noticing the play was to clean and repack with grease. I've got new boots to fit.

[Penelope Stopit]

No there shouldn't be any play in a CV joint, the play can only get worse not better

[Tobs]

Penelope Stopit said:

No there shouldn't be any play in a CV joint, the play can only get worse not better

Do new joints have no play at all? As decent Lobro / GKN joints aren't cheap, Just worried that I go an buy new joints to find they have similar play to what i've got at the moment (which is not actually much)... I agree though it can only get worse!

[phillpot]

Is the play definitely in the joint and not the spline on the shaft worn?

[Tobs]

phillpot said:

Is the play definitely in the joint and not the spline on the shaft worn?

It seems to be in the joint - not the splines.

I've looked at a few other posts about new CV joints and found one that says:

"I'm also seeing some rotational play in the CV (almost as much as the joints I'm replacing) however to be fair I don't know if this is within tolerance or not……."

These were not GKN joints though. I suppose without buying some new ones there's no way of knowing.

[Sardonicus]

Like mentioned should be no radial play unless in the splines and that should not be there either as these are a mild interference

[Tobs]

Thanks for your replies, looks like I'll probably replace them then.

Any advice on which ones to go for? I guess the original GKN Lobo ones if I can get them, or are there any aftermarket ones people would recommend?

[Sardonicus]

GKN/Lobro are all I'd trust TBH , not that expensive in the grand scheme of things

[Steve_D]

The very nature of the design means there has to be some play. If it had no play it would not be able to slide or bend.
Difficult to measure but as another post has mentioned you may replace them and find the new ones have the same amount of place which would be a bummer.
Fit GKN but there are plenty of motorsport suppliers who stock them. Such as http://race.parts/Catalogue/Drivetrain/CV-Joints

Steve

[Penelope Stopit]

You could always visit a motor factors and ask them if you can check a new one, this might be an eye opener for many of us but I very much doubt it

[Sardonicus]

Steve_D said:

The very nature of the design means there has to be some play. If it had no play it would not be able to slide or bend.
Difficult to measure but as another post has mentioned you may replace them and find the new ones have the same amount of place which would be a bummer.
Fit GKN but there are plenty of motorsport suppliers who stock them. Such as http://race.parts/Catalogue/Drivetrain/CV-Joints

Steve

Should of made myself clearer as in no noticeable or visual movement when twisted , but but yes of course there is movement but it should not be a click click (noticeable movement) twisted in a clockwise and counter clock movement

Edited by Sardonicus on Wednesday 28th August 09:40

[Tobs]

I've decied to dissasemble them and take a better look once all the grease is cleaned out - I should then be able to detrmine if and how many need replacing. As wear should be fairly obvious I would think.

Found some GKN ones here - they look like the correct ones if I'm right (price doesn't seem too bad either):

https://www.design911.co.uk/fu/prod3583/CV-joint-k...

They also sell these ODM make ones:

https://www.design911.co.uk/fu/prod141129/CV-joint...

Which seem to be the same as supplied by Dave Mac Propshafts which I see from the forums a number of people have used, and maybe some TVR parts suppliers :

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=14...

[Steve_D]

If you do dismantle them make sure you know:-

• Which side of the car the shaft came from.
• Which end of the shaft each CV came from.
• which way round they assemble on the shaft.
• which way round the inner part fits into the outer.

You may have to drive the whole CV off the spline but dismantling inner, outer & balls should require no force at all just a gentle fiddle until the inner rolls out. Best done whilst still greased.

Note...the CV cannot be dismantled whilst still on the shaft

Steve

[Steve_D]

Those 911 ones don't specify the 'plunge' range which is important. The GKN 'Deep Plunge' ones are +-14. which is what you need.

Steve

[Penelope Stopit]

Am I correct in thinking that CV joints are classed as having what's known as a clearance fit and the clearance can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer or will the clearance be the same for all CV joints?

Does anyone know what the clearance or whatever it's known as should be or could be?

[Tobs]

Thanks, all good so far luckily I did mark up the shafts OS and NS when I took them off a year or so ago! Now need to mark up the parts before dismantling.

I guess once I have them apart ideally the same balls should go back into the same parts of the joint when reassembling or is that not so critical?

Steve_D said:

If you do dismantle them make sure you know:-

• Which side of the car the shaft came from.
• Which end of the shaft each CV came from.
• which way round they assemble on the shaft.
• which way round the inner part fits into the outer.

You may have to drive the whole CV off the spline but dismantling inner, outer & balls should require no force at all just a gentle fiddle until the inner rolls out. Best done whilst still greased.

Note...the CV cannot be dismantled whilst still on the shaft

Steve

[Tony91]

Can anyone tell me the size and thickness of the cv circlips needed also is it one on either side of the cv joint.
I want to replace the gaiters and would like to get the clips before I strip it down just as a precaution.

[Tobs]

Tony91 said:

Can anyone tell me the size and thickness of the cv circlips needed also is it one on either side of the cv joint.
I want to replace the gaiters and would like to get the clips before I strip it down just as a precaution.

Just been dismantling mine - measured OD of shaft inside circlip groove as 28.14mm and thickness of circlip as 2.34mm note that the digital calipers are probably not the most accurate. Not sure if they are imperial or metric circlips. I'll see if there a std size that matches up with these measurements.

Something to note is that you need a decent pair of circlip pliers to get them off - broke mine taking the first circlip off so need to order some good ones for the others..

[Tobs]

Took of the CVs apart. Found some wear (understandable as the car has done ~90k). No pitting though, just polished areas. See the photos below. This was the joint I could feel a bit of movement in.

[Sardonicus]

Tracks look fine ball bearing on the right looks mottled/pitted however