Constant Velocity Joint Gaiters

[Wolfie]

Hi guys.

 

My zx failed the MOT on this. I have got one of these universal stretchy things to replace it with. Has anybody had experience at changing one? Do you approach it as changing a wheel bearing as i have done one before on an old beamer.

 

Thanks.

[Guest Colin Hunter]

Hi guys.

 

My zx failed the MOT on this. I have got one of these universal stretchy things to replace it with. Has anybody had experience at changing one? Do you approach it as changing a wheel bearing as i have done one before on an old beamer.

 

Thanks.

 

OK. First we need to know whether it's a small petrol (1.1 or 1.4) or other. The difference is that on all others the outer CV joint can be removed from the driveshaft, whereas on the 1.1 & 1.4 it's in one piece. In either case you'll be better off with the shaft out of the car, easy if it's the nearside, more tricky if it's the offside. However, the job can be done with the shaft in place.

 

First thing is to remove the driveshaft nut on the hub. You may need a 3/4" drive and socket (Size is dependant on model) as the nut is usually too tight for a 1/2" drive to cope with.

Once the nut is slack, jack up and support the car and remove the wheel.

Now you'll need to undo and remove the track rod end and the lower ball joint pinch bolt behind the hub and seperate the swivel hub from the wishbone ball joint. This can be awkward!

Once the strut and hub are free from the steering and suspension remove the driveshaft nut completely and pull the hub off the shaft spline. Take care NOT to pull the inner end out of the gearbox unless you intend to! If you do, have an old bowl or something to catch the escaping oil.

Pull the strut to one side and tie it out of the way.

The joint should now be accessible for working on.

Remove the old clips and joint gaiter and clean up the CV joint and inspect for any damage. If it's a removable joint it can be separated from the shaft with a couple of sharp taps on the back to drive it over the clip in the shaft spline.

If that's the case it's an easy job to slide the new boot onto the shaft, replace the joint (Filled with new grease.) and secure the clips.

If it's not removeable then I believe the way forward is to clean up the rusty outside of the joint as well as you can and coat it with grease, then turn the gaiter inside out and, grasping it with the large end, pull it over the cv joint in "One BOLD sweep!" Make sure there are no sharp edges which may cause the gaiter to fail as it's being stretched over the joint.

Once it's on, reverse the gaiter so it's the right way out, fill the joint with grease in the same way and secure the clips.

 

Reassembly, as they say, is the reverse !

 

Happy tinkering!

 

Cheers :)

[techbod]

I used this one not difficult and cheap

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Cv-Boot-Tool-...bNmQaheLe3aMb40

 

this is the proper thing but expensive

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Bootslider-CV...bNmQaheLe3aMb40

[Wolfie]

I used this one not difficult and cheap

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Cv-Boot-Tool-...bNmQaheLe3aMb40

 

this is the proper thing but expensive

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Bootslider-CV...bNmQaheLe3aMb40

 

Job done many thanks.