CV joints - a tale of woe.

Post by **AdrianC** » 08 Aug 2011, 17:31

Remember I mentioned a clacking noise, that we eventually decided was the speedo cable.

Hmm.

Not sure if it was a different clacking noise, but it got a LOT louder. I SAID A LOT LOUDER. Once it was THAT audible, it was dead easy to trace - RH rear outside CV joint.

Unfortunately, it started to make the final death-rattle noises part way across Spain, tonking ever-so-slightly towards a big 2cv meet in the middle of France.
Fortunately, we managed to grit our teeth and ignore it, and it held until we got there.

So we went down to the village garage, and ordered a joint. €120 later, we got a remanufactured exchange joint. After tripping over it for a couple of days, we decided that fitting it in a field was a mug's game, and the time would be FAR better spent in the beer tent, so after the event, the van went in to the same garage. €70 later, it was fitted.

That was last Monday.
On Tuesday, we started to hear a gentle clacking again.
By the weekend, it was as loud as the original. And from the same flipping corner. But we were heading towards a mate with decent workshop facilities, so we thought it worth ignoring, and deal with it at his gaff. Not far, just a few hundred km.

We're now in a hotel, whilst the van is at the local VW dealer (Be nice to have had a choice, ADAC...) waiting for them to contemplate "diagnosis". I don't need it diagnosing. When you let the clutch out, the RH driveshaft spins, but the wheel doesn't.

<sigh>
So, c'mon, then...

Brickwerks price - £50 for new VW joint with boot kit or a quid more for HD Porsche without boot... What do we reckon VW's opening price for the joint is going to be? IF they decide they can get one. I almost hope they can't. Then I've got an excuse to DIY the sourcing. At least it's "only" €80/hr labour inc TVA. <sigh>

Still, ADAC are paying €130/night for hotel & food whilst we're laid up...

Post by **jamesc76** » 09 Aug 2011, 00:04

Hope it gets sorted and not to much of a sting in the tail from it !

Post by **AdrianC** » 09 Aug 2011, 15:52

AdrianC wrote:<sigh>
So, c'mon, then...

Brickwerks price - £50 for new VW joint with boot kit or a quid more for HD Porsche without boot... What do we reckon VW's opening price for the joint is going to be? IF they decide they can get one. I almost hope they can't. Then I've got an excuse to DIY the sourcing. At least it's "only" €80/hr labour inc TVA. <sigh>

Guess what? They don't appear to have even _looked_ at the van yet. At half eleven this morning, ADAC called to say the garage "didn't have a diagnosis yet" (despite the driveshaft visibly going round without the wheel doing likewise), but would do by four. It's now ten to six, and the phone's been silent.

Still, ADAC are paying €130/night for hotel & food whilst we're laid up...

Ooops, silly me. €130/night for hotel. Food's our tab. Now, do we move from this very nice €60/night hotel to somewhere considerably more lavish? No point. They'll only pay for three nights... And this is about to be the second. Guess we'll be sleeping in the dealer's compound, then.

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 09 Aug 2011, 18:44

Always possible that when joint was replaced, bolts were not torqued up enough and rattled around on four, then three, then none as the remaining ones sheared. Equally, could have been very bad quality joints. Not one to run any retailer down but the ones on ebay I bought last year must have been made of chocolate.

Didn't last more than a month or so!

Post by **sarran1955** » 09 Aug 2011, 18:51

Hello,

You have a mail.

Cordialement,

Post by **AdrianC** » 09 Aug 2011, 19:53

CovKid wrote:Always possible that when joint was replaced, bolts were not torqued up enough and rattled around on four, then three, then none as the remaining ones sheared.

It's always possible, but I don't think so. I've not dived in deeply at the side of the road, but it didn't sound/feel "loose bolt".

Equally, could have been very bad quality joints.

I know where my money lies. The shaft is running straight and true - but the wheel isn't rotating, and there's a gentle tinkling noise. It'd been clonking, we stopped for a map-check, pulled away and BANG. Stationary.

Not one to run any retailer down

(Unlike me, where it's deserved.)

This was a French recon, branded blue box, I don't recall the name. The kit looked decent - joint/boot/grease sachet/metal strapping.

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 10 Aug 2011, 07:09

AdrianC wrote: we stopped for a map-check, pulled away and BANG. Stationary.

Not untypical of snapped bolts then

When they go, thats the noise you get and nearly always on the outside where its difficult to get at. Got the T-shirt at least 3 times. Bet its the bolts sheared off. Only way I put an end to it was by fitting splined bolts rather than allen, proper washers and done up tight with the correct tool.

On pull away, theres a lot of weight to push and the forces at play on the driveshafts are enormous. If they were not done up tight enough, they work loose, sometimes producing a light clacking noise (tho sometimes none) and its always on pulling away that the bolts give way. Most kits (if they have any bolts at all) are allen. Chances are they fitted same bolts and couldn't get the bolts as tight as needed due to the limited space inside wheel housing.

Post by **ermie571** » 11 Aug 2011, 07:05

CovKid wrote:
AdrianC wrote: we stopped for a map-check, pulled away and BANG. Stationary.

Not untypical of snapped bolts then When they go, thats the noise you get and nearly always on the outside where its difficult to get at. Got the T-shirt at least 3 times. Bet its the bolts sheared off.

There's a t-shirt? Send us one down, please.....(just the one will do for now) Unless you have one that says..."luckier than the hubby, my bolts just undid themsleves, and we got the clakcing noise at pull away....so stopped and tightened them up!"

(incidently, this was after a weekend away, driving down the motorway, came off at a junction, stopped for lights, clacking on pull away. Mr Plod saw us by the side of the road at the lights, and suggested that we move the van! We gently explained that if we did this, we were likely to shear what remained of any bolts, thereby rendering the van immobile. So he parked car up behind us, we tightened bolts (gear box end) enough to push it to nearby safe spot, got them fully tightened and got home. The clacking made us stop....immediately!!!)
Em
x

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 11 Aug 2011, 12:44

Indeedy

Problem is, most ignore it or assume its something else. Invariably the few remaining bolts get bent, making it impossible to pull out of CV joint and you have to take an angle grinder to them then. Have replaced joints a few times on at least three T25s I've owned (and a couple of bugs come to think of it) and you soon learn that an extra 20 mins re-checking tightness really pays, plus a rudimentary check a few days later to be sure. Torque on them is moderate whilst driving but its pull away that will finish them off - ideally on a hill at a T-junction at rush hour.

Once you get to three bolts its only a matter of time, and the moment.

THUD!!! Once had to walk from Thorpe-le-soken to Harwich, in the pitch black after I did that first time. Took hours..... :cry

Mind you Adrian, it could just be those chocolate CV joints doing the rounds - or no grease.

Post by **Titus A Duxass** » 11 Aug 2011, 12:51

I carry a spare driveshaft complete with 2 new CVs in the back all the time.

Am I strange?

Website · Post by **CovKid** » 11 Aug 2011, 16:00

No - Merc Doctor does if he goes away

Personally, I think a spare CV joint packed in grease inside a plastic bag is a good emergency spare to have.

Post by **Plasticman** » 11 Aug 2011, 16:35

Thanks for reminding me, just checked and the spare joint is in the back all gresed and happy but,,,,,,,forgot the set of bolts.. now sorted, worth noting that I always carry a set of wheel nuts and fr bolts.
mike

Post by **AdrianC** » 12 Aug 2011, 06:17

CovKid wrote:Mind you Adrian, it could just be those chocolate CV joints doing the rounds - or no grease.

Thanks to that nice Mr Sarran Jr, the 4th emergency service, we now know exactly what's what.

It was indeed <cough> the outer bolts falling out. Largely, it seems, because it's the wrong joint. Oh, and one of the inner bolts is thoroughly mullered. Only one bolt on the outer is bent, but the only hacksaw we managed to obtain (the VW dealer didn't have such high-tech specialist equipment) didn't touch it - so the shaft came back to their house, and we're about to head back, refit it, and drive the van back here for a thorough checking over. The right joint will be obtained...

<sigh> The van hadn't moved an inch from Monday to yesterday - VW's diagnosis got as far as leaning under, wiggling the shaft, and going "Yup, that's dead"...

Post by **82JEW75** » 12 Aug 2011, 06:27

Going to go down with the Aircooled T25, can't wait to see the expression on the dealer's face when we turn up

Post by **AdrianC** » 12 Aug 2011, 14:48

82JEW75 wrote:Going to go down with the Aircooled T25, can't wait to see the expression on the dealer's face when we turn up

We ended up taking the anonyMegane - but the look on the mechanics faces when we drove out barely an hour after arriving...

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