68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --
11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
I have just dismantled and cleaned 4 CV Joints from My Beetle... 2 had a small bit of pitting which I don't like and won't use... I found another two which were OK. the Four I used , just had the normal wear marks in them...
One CVJ had larger than normal ball bearings in it... are these from a type 3 or type 4??
Anyway I have one axle together with new "LOBRO" german boots .... It must be one of the worst jobs to do with a VW, or front wheel drive car.. especially when You use the Moly Lithium based [extreme pressure] blackish grey sticky grease.... I do wear disposible gloves and use a roll of paper towel & a heap of gloves.. I just hope I never have to touch them again...
For 1st time assemblers... there are a lot of tricks needed to do them, like the new Boots don't fit over the axles... as they are very small in comparison with the axle size... and the CV joints are a trick in themselves... they have to be assembled One Way... but there are two incorrect ways You can do them.... Its probably easier if You can mark them in some way before disassembly & cleaning.. How You can mark them I don't know.. as the Kerosene I use to clean out the old grease, usually will take any marking pen etc marks off. When You are regreasing the clean and assembled CV Joint, if You are not careful, just as You finish jamming it full of the nice lithium grease, it can come apart or the balls can fall out... as I said, one of the worst jobs on a VW or front wheel drive car.... and the grease will not come out of Your clothes... or Your CV joints...🙂🙂
Lee Noonan
[Edited on 3-4-2004 by 68AutoBug]