Date:         Tue, 27 Oct 2015 15:30:32 +0000
Reply-To:     Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Cleaning CV joints
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A couple of observations. One, I posted a while back on a technique for
cleaning CV joints without disassembling them. I wrote that i fill a three
pound coffee can about halfway up with lacquer thinner and then put a
couple of CV joints to soak for a few days, shaking and sloshing a couple
of times a day.

The joints I have on my car now were done this way about 50K miles ago.

However, I have come up with a little bit simpler way. I fill the can about
1/3 up with lacquer thinner. I pull the boots back to the center of the
axle and don't remove the joints. I stuck the ends down in the thinner for
a soak. With other greases I have cleaned, it just fell off to the bottom
of the can, but the black grease in these is dry and more stubborn. I
finished the job off with a can of brake cleaner.

I used a little less than half a gallon of thinner. Would gasoline work as
well? I don't know. This is my third try with lacquer thinner and it works.
If gasoline works I would like to know about it.

To prevent everything from flying apart when the boots are pulled back I
cut some pieces of wood 4 1/2 inches long and about 2 inches wide. I
drilled two holes in each the same spacing as the opposite holes in the
joint. I tied this on like a shoe sole to the outside of the joint with
cable ties. I can do any amount of cleaning and not have the bearings come
flying out, and I make sure that they go back into their original holes.
When I repack the bearings I will pull the boots down over them (none were
damaged, they are all good OEM VW rubber) and bag them before storing.

Not such a dirty job done this way.

Jim