Constant Velocity Joint: Testing and Inspection

Outer Joint, Checking

It is necessary to disassemble the joint whenever replacing the grease or if the ball surfaces show wear or damage.

Removing

- Before disassembling, mark the ball hub position in relation to the ball cage and housing with an electric scriber or oil stone.






- Swing ball hub and ball cage.

- Remove balls in sequence.

- Lift out cage with hub.

- Swing segment of hub into window of cage.






- Fold hub out from cage.

6 balls for each joint belong to a tolerance group. Check stub axle, hub, cage and balls for small depressions (pitting build-up) and chafing. Excessive circumferential backlash in joint makes itself noticed via tip-in shock, in such cases joint should be replaced. Flattening and running marks of balls are no reason to replace joint.

Installing

- Press in half of the total grease amount (60 grams) into joint body.

- Insert cage with hub into joint body.

- Note the large chamfer at the inner diameter of the ball hub and the large inner diameter of the ball cage. They must point toward the drive axle during installation.

- Press in opposing balls in sequence, during this, previous position of ball hub to ball cage and to joint body must be established again.

- Distribute remaining grease in cover.