CV Joints

CV Joints or Constant Velocity Joints as they are also known as can only be serviced by qualified technicians. We suggest you get in contact with your nearest service centre to get your cv joints inspected.

cv joints e carSigns your CV Joints need replacing

  • Vibration while driving
  • Grease on the inside or edge of the wheel
  • Knocking or clicking sound when turning
  • CV boot has broken or been damaged

You will have a cv joint for each wheel. So if you have an all-wheel drive vehicle you will have 8 cv joints. CV joints are situated at both ends of the drive shafts. An inner CV joint connects the drive shaft to the transmission. An outer CV joint connects the drive shaft to the wheel. They are designed to minimise vibration and wear.

On front-wheel-drive cars, ball-type CV joints are used on the outer shaft of the drivetrain. Tripod types are used on the inner side.

We Specialise in:

  • CV Inspection
  • Complete CV Replacement
  • Custom-Built CV Joints
  • CV Replacement
  • CV Repair
  • CV Boot Inspection and Replacement
  • Supply Thermoplastic CV Boots
  • Cv Joint Oil Seal Replacement, Inspection & Repair
  • Reconditioned CV Joints

Common Problems with CV Joints

A CV joint is packed with special grease and sealed by the protective boot. If the boot is damaged, the grease leaks. This reduces lubrication, causing the CV to wear faster. It may also allow dirt and moisture to creep into the CV causing additional wear.

Usually, the outer CV boots are the first to go – they endure more stress than the inner boots.

Once the CV boot is cracked or damaged, grease will begin to leak. The CV joint grease isn’t the same as bearing or chassis grease. The grease is usually a green to blackish colour and is easy to spot.

Constant Velocity Joint by StevenVE on Sketchfab

Before proceeding, you should ask someone to help you with replacing the CV joint. The job is quite labour intensive.

To replace outer CV joints, follow these steps:

  1. Ensure that the handbrake is up to prevent the car from moving while the CV joints are being replaced.
  2. Remove the center cap of the wheel and remove the driveshaft retaining nut and washer.
  3. Loosen the nuts that secure the front wheels. Jack the front wheels off the ground and install a trestle on each side of the vehicle for support. Remove the front wheels.
  4. Loosen the ball joint locating nut, but do not remove the nut altogether. Using a suitable bar, carefully lever the lower suspension arm down to release the ball joint from the hub assembly. Once the assembly is free, remove the nut and lower the control arm assembly. Take extra care not to damage the ball joint rubber dust cover.
  5. The inner CV joint can now be released from the transmission housing. Pull the hub assembly firmly outwards. A tripod-type inner CV joint can normally be released by inserting a suitable lever or power bar between the transmission housing and the relevant CV joint. Take extra care not to damage the oil seal while doing this.
  6. Pull the hub assembly outwards. Slide the CV joint from the hub, and gently pull the driveshaft out from its original locating position. It’s advisable to get an assistant to apply pressure to the brake pedal. This will lock the brake pads when you’re removing the drive shaft securing nut, to prevent the hub assembly from rotating.
  7. Remove the clamp securing the CV boot and then proceed to remove the CV joint from the drive shaft. You will need to nudge the joint off the shaft using a weighted tool. Be careful not to damage the shaft while removing the joint. You can also use a CV joint extraction tool if you have access to one.
  8. Refit all the above components in the reverse order they were removed. Ensure that all the relevant parts are cleaned before installation, and double-check that all securing bolts are tightened correctly. Refit the wheel of the vehicle.
  9. Repeat steps for other CV joints.

Can be Purchased from Adendorff