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How can I test whether the CV joints nead servicing?
Howard and Isolde Kinns - March 23rd, 2003 at 10:12 PM

We have just purchased a 76 2L auto Kombi, and had the heads reconditioned. The motor is running well now but there is a slight noise, sounds like from somewhere in the transmission, over about 80 k/hr. Is there an easy way to test if the CV joints need servicing? Thanks in anticipation.
From an late middle-aged Newbie

sand kombi - March 23rd, 2003 at 10:34 PM

Just pull them out and do them that way you'll know if it's the cv's or not . I pull mine out and clean , repack & refit mine at least evert 12 mths , normally more due to the angle they are at due to the lift. I use Castrol LMM [ a smell that justs stays on your hands], I have a complete spare set so all I do pull one set out and put the new set in,then clean and repack the old set in your spare time

Howard and Isolde Kinns - March 23rd, 2003 at 10:42 PM

Thanks Mike, I will take your advice and repack the CV joints. The Kombi is a second car, my other transport being a 1982 Pug - not nearly as intersting as the Volksie.

sand kombi - March 23rd, 2003 at 10:52 PM

If you have never done one, just look how they look BEFORE you pull them apart ,as if not put together right you won't get the movement in the cv right, if in Bris. and you need a hand just give me a yell.

Howard and Isolde Kinns - March 23rd, 2003 at 11:20 PM

Thanks again Mike. I'm in Melbourne, so Brisbane is out of the question, but thanks anyway. I have a VW Type 2 workshop manual and John Muir's book How to Keep Your VW Alive - a Manual for the Compleat Idiot. It's easy to read and the instructions on the CV joint clean and repack with grease sounds fairly straight forward. I'll let you know how it goes.

vw54 - March 24th, 2003 at 06:22 AM

Yeah its easier to pull them out n clean and inspect them rather than trying to guess.

Make sure you get the correct tool for undoing the bolts that hold the joint onto drive flanges

Once apart you will soon see if they are pitted and worn. Watch out when removing the circlips they fly and could get you in the eyes.

mnsKmobi - March 24th, 2003 at 09:21 AM

Check this page out. It's what I used to service my cv joints. Very helpful text and pictures.

http://volksweb.relitech.com/cvjoints.htm 

Andy - March 24th, 2003 at 01:17 PM

Don't forget the CV's need 90g of grease each!!! That's quite a lot to pack in there, but if you don't there are air gaps in there and it's not greased properly. VW used to sell (maybe still do??) tubes with 90g in it, but you can either measure it out, or I just guesstimate on volume of the container (eg if container is 360g you need 1/4 of it).
Great fun job....... :D
Andy