Club 80-90 Forums

CJH wrote:

itchyfeet wrote:There is always movement in the shaft....

Ah, I misunderstood. So maybe pushing them back and forth was what 'fixed' mine too.

itchyfeet wrote:So possibly a regrease is all thats needed.

Maybe so. This could be a use for some of the other 499g of MoS2 lithium grease that I bought for the flywheel spigot bearing? But I don't like the idea of having to punch holes in the boots to do this. Is that the only way to get grease in once they're in situ?

You can force a greasegun nozzle in the ends of the boots quite easily and pump them semi-full.No need to dismantle or make holes to do it. Obviously removing end closure and replacing as needed.
E D I T: posts whilst typing again!

Thanks Itchy - photos for every occasion, as ever. I think if I'm going to dismantle, I'll go for the full replace. I checked with GSF, and their 'premium' ones will be either SKF or Lobro.
I notice your photo doesn't seem to show a clip - had you removed it by then, or is it not necessary?

Thanks OBG - I'll take a look and see what's doable in situ.

Aye. If you can afford it, replace them. The grease that comes in the kit (not always supplied) is barely enough. Halfords seem to be keenly priced if you don't have any of the black stuff.

For reference, I wasn't advocating making a hole in a gaiter as anything other than an emergency get-you-home measure. I've only done it once and that was in a snowstorm. Worked though

New boots were so tight no clip needed.
I have read origional cvs are very well made, i wonder how many get replaced with lower quality units when they just need a regrease
yes you can pump grease in but thay won't wash all the crappy old dry grease out.

CovKid wrote: For reference, I wasn't advocating making a hole in a gaiter as anything other than an emergency get-you-home measure...

Your reputation is safe - that was clear, but it did imply (correctly it seems) that the proper way to do it is not a two-minute job.

itchyfeet wrote:... but thay won't wash all the crappy old dry grease out.

Yes, assuming I can even get the grease gun nozzle in there, that's a concern. But hopefully I'll be dropping a new engine in over the winter, and although I haven't yet decided whether to leave the gearbox in place, that might be a good time to investigate these joints more closely. For the immediate future (before Busfest at least) the choice in my head is coming down to either doing nothing (perhaps massaging what grease is already in there a bit) or regreasing in situ.

CJH wrote: perhaps massaging what grease is already in there a bit.

thinking about it w***ing your shafts regularly is probably a good thing to do.

But in private

itchyfeet wrote: thinking about it w***ing your shafts regularly is probably a good thing to do.

Top advice.

Regreasing in-situ seems doable. No clips on mine either, and with the aid of a flat-bladed pry bar (sorry, 'screwdriver'), the grease gun nozzle goes in ok. So time to empty out the grease gun and refill it with some MoS2 Lithium HMP.

Well I filled all four boots using this method. It took the best part of my 500g tub of grease, but with the nozzle pushed up close to the joint itself I'm confident that there's plenty where it's needed. I even massaged it around afterwards for good measure.

The noise had already disappeared, so I won't know if this has made any difference, but at least I don't need to worry about dry CV joints anymore.

I was going to give this method ago a few weeks back but not sure if I was going to need a small tube type nozzle to get underneath the CV boot without damaging it.
CJH - I take it you just gave it 10 or so pumps to 'measure' it in??

Pete, I gave each boot a 'handleful', refilling the grease gun handle each time. I don't know how much that worked out to be, but it seemed like plenty. In the Eurocarparts advert for the Lobro part I think I can make out '80g' on the packet of grease that comes with it, and since my four handlefuls used up most of my 500g tub I'm happy that I used at least that much. At no point did it start oozing past the nozzle though, so I reckon it could have taken more.

The boots seem really tough, and it took a lot of levering to get the standard grease gun nozzle in, so I don't think there's much chance of damaging them unless they're really old and cracked. It was surprisingly difficult to lever a gap as the screwdriver kept slipping off the greasy axle.

Oh for a greasy axle!

Not for a while no, but it will come back. The clunk/clicking is worn joints and although the extra grease will quieten them, the wear/play is still there. You may get a few extra months, perhaps into next spring, maybe longer.

CJH wrote:at least I don't need to worry about dry CV joints anymore.

CovKid wrote:You may get a few extra months, perhaps into next spring, maybe longer.

My glass is half full then.

About it really. Owned four T25s since the 90s and CV joints can be a right pain in the butt. Theres a lot of torque when you consider how much weight has to be moved.