Date:         Thu, 24 Apr 2014 09:49:28 -0600
Reply-To:     Gnarlodious <gnarlodious@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Gnarlodious <gnarlodious@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: CV Joints
In-Reply-To:  <CAKBchppgsrEXU4gQQiy004+NGw57=kF=Zo93d0-FEFMXba01oA@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

A rule of thumb is that CV joints are not fast breaking parts. Even if
they make noise you can usually drive quite a ways before they go
critical. Squeezing some grease in there usually rejuvenates them long
enough to get home. Almost all CV breakage starts with lack of grease,
or degraded grease.

You should inspect your motor mounts. If the engine sags or shifts to
one side it can pull and stretch the CV joint causing the noise and
grabbing you experienced.

In all likelihood your CV boots will degrade and break before the
joint itself, probably in about 3 years. That will give you a chance
to open it up and look at the metal. Try to catch it before it sprays
thick gooey grease all under your van. In general the quality of CV
boots has gotten horrendous since the Asian invasion, although I can't
speak for the axles themselves. A quality axle runs into some money,
and you already have the Chinese ones installed. Best to run with them
as is.

You can build your own axles from the original high quality Lobro
parts but it is tricky work and messy. Just visually examine every
working surface selecting parts that are not pitted or severely worn.
Assemble parts having already decided which side the axle will go on,
so that unused surfaces get the pressure.

Also a great trick is to flip over axles side by side, that way the
load bearing surfaces are all basically unused, except for a little
wear from reversing and decelerating. I did that at 180k

As for extending the life expectancy of the boots, that is an unsolved
problem. Especially for people living in high UV and ozone regions,
and vans slung high which exposes the rubber to more UV.

-- Gnarlie


On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 8:28 AM, bernie <1234bjs@gmail.com> wrote:
> May I have some input please.
> On a recent trip my CV joints on the left side started to make
> a very loud noise.
> I found a small shop and they confirmed it was CV joints.
> They said it was cheaper to replace the left rear axle
> that comes as a complete unit with the CV joints.
> They did so with a remanufactured or new one from
> O'Reily Parts. O'Reily sells both new and remanufactured.
> I believe this is remanufactured by not totally sure.
> They took my core.
> These come out of China.
> Can I have any confidence in the product?
> What are my options if I wish to upgrade the quality?
> Am I limited in options buy replacing whole axel and joints
> as a unit?
> Lastly because a remanufactured ones uses as many
> original parts as possible would it be better than a
> brand new Chinese in quality?
> I always want the best parts possible but I was stuck
> in small town and just needed to get on the road quickly.
> Have put 400 miles on it and things seem fine.
> Thanks for reading and any input will be valued and
> appreciated as my knowledge in these matters
> is extremely limited.
>
> Bernie
> Vanacouver BC