Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 17:38:55 -0700
Reply-To: jbrush@AROS.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Anonymous Digest <jbrush@AROS.NET>
Subject: CV Joint Experts?
I had a great trip to Moab, and made it home safely but the last 100 miles
revealed what I am thinking is a bad CV joint.
I am pretty sure its my turn to dive under and do the CV joint replacement,
but I thought I would throw out what I am hearing, and maybe either confirm
the joint is bad, or perhaps I am overlooking something that might be
misleading me.
On my recent trip, just as I was nearing home, I started to hear a
clunking/knocking noise that I figured was coming from the right rear axle
area. I was wasted from the trip, and the rain and snow precluded any
under-van adventures, so I just stayed in the right lane, kept my speed
constant and tried not to stress whatever it is that was making the noise.
A solid Tap Tap Tap occurs whenever I let off the throttle. As I cruise the
neighborhood and then back off the throttle, its a pretty rhythmic, clunk,
clunk, clunk, but sometimes it does not do it at all. It will stop when I give
the least bit of throttle and change the stress on the driveline. Only a few
times do I hear it when I accelerate, and never from a dead stop, only between
gear shifts as I let out the clutch and load the axle. Its a pretty solid
sound, and it does not make any noise going around corners, either with the
clutch in and coasting, or in gear under a steady load. Even while
decelerating around a corner, it is not as pronounced as it is when going
straight.
Even as I write this, I am convincing myself of what it is, but I figure it
can't hurt to check with folks who have 'been there, done that' :-)
The boots are in great shape, no sign of any cuts or any grease anywhere near
the area. They do have a lot of miles on them tho.....
I was thinking the exhaust/muffler might be loose and banging when I
decelerated, but I cannot see any sign that there is any play in the pipes.
Everything there looks okay.
I am bummed that the boots look good, but I know nothing lasts forever, so I
guess I am up next for replacing them.
Questions for those who have BTDT?
I know the archives are filled with info and will be shopping there tonight.
Are there any web sites that go through the steps? I have read the posts about
cleaning the allen heads carefully, and don't think its more than a PITA and a
mess. I am up to the mechanical ability no sweat, just leery of doing
something I have not done before, although I have done CVs on 4WD trucks
many moons ago.
What fails in them? What makes the actual clunking? Does clunking mean it has
failed, or is it in need of cleanup and replacement of grease?
I have seen the reports of places to buy grease and tools that can sort of
inject the grease through the edge of the existing boot. Is there any good
reason to try this before R&Ring the joint?
Now the question no one can answer, but conjecture is solicited. It absolutely
only started doing this 100 miles ago for sure. I would not ever drive it on
the freeway like this, and be hesitant to use it at all, but if push comes to
shove, would the joint fail if I was to drive it for around town if it was
needed? Hard to ask because I know there are variables. Do I get any miles
left on a joint once it starts clunking?? I was supposed to help a friend pick
up some big stuff at WallyMart not too far from here, and now I don't know if
its a good idea to make the trip or not.
Thanks for reading this far. Any comments or advice beyond the well-known "its
a knuckle buster and a greasy mess" :-) would be most appreciated.
John