Constant Velocity Joint: Service and Repair
DisassemblingThe joint must be disassembled to replace the grease when excessively contaminated or to inspect the bearing surface and balls for wear and damage.
1. Swing ball hub and ball cage out of joint and press out in direction of arrow.
Note: Ball hubs and joints are matched. Do not mix up. The 6 balls for each joint also belong to one tolerance group.
2. Tilt ball hub out of the ball cage via the ball runway (arrow).
Assembling
1. Check joint, ball hub, ball cage and balls for pitting and seizure spots. Too much radial play in the joint is identified by knocking noises when accelerating/decelerating. Replace the joint in such cases. Slight wear spots and tracks from the balls are not reason enough for replacement of the joint. Thoroughly coat all parts with molybdenum grease.
2. Place ball hub over both chamfers in the ball cage. Any position is acceptable.
3. Press balls into cage.
4. Install hub with cage and balls in joint at a 90° angle. Make sure one wide groove a of the joint is on the same side with one narrow groove "b"of the hub.
Note The chamfer on the ball hub's inside diameter (spline) must face the bearing collar for the axle shaft and the largest diameter of the joint.
5. Install ball hub with cage. Push hub out of the cage (direction of arrows) so that the balls are aligned with grooves.
6. Press hub with balls into joint (arrow).
7. Check joint operation. The constant velocity joint is assembled correctly. If the ball hub is able to turn smoothly throughout the entire range of travel.
8. Inject about 45 grams of MoS2 grease into the joint from each side (a total of about 90 grams).