CV Joints

Post by **chuckle-bus-tom** » 17 May 2008, 16:52

So I bought a four-pack of CV joint kits this week and set out to do the lot this morning. According to a combination of Haynes, the 'How To Keep Your Bus Alive' supplement and the 'Volkswagens for idiots' book I had allowed 7 hours including tea breaks and lunch.

Oh what a fool I am! This is the Chuckle Bus I'm dealing with; the most cunning of all creatures on earth, birthed to test my ability and patience like a mechanical Chameleon, a four wheeled joker.

The previous owner had fitted (or had had a) new gearbox a couple of years ago, and had just hashed the existing CV joints back on. It has taken me six hours to get down to the 12th bolt on the offside. I had to enlist the help of my next-door-neighbor and his angle grinder to get the gearbox side off, and now I have just one rounded out bolt on the wheel side to do.

I've called it a day and will go out tomorrow refreshed and with new vigor!

Loved every soggy second of it!!

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 17 May 2008, 17:01

you arent going to want to hear this but the gearbox end is easy peasy, just pray that all the outers come out nice for you. If you have a jet wash or hose give the trailing arm a good clean out as the freshly greased cv is a crud magnet when trying to get it back and get the first bolt in.

Post by **chuckle-bus-tom** » 17 May 2008, 17:04

3 of the outers behaved. 2 came out by jamming a flathead into them and now just one nut is spoiling it for everyone.

Think I may write off a socket piece tomorrow and hammer it over the final nut to remove it.

The nearside CVs have nice nuts in so that'll be a treat when I get to them!

Post by **chuckle-bus-tom** » 17 May 2008, 17:15

P.S.

If anyone has a special tool for this and fancies earning a couple of beers tomorrow....

Post by **stuckin88** » 17 May 2008, 17:40

I have heard last resort is to hammer a 12mm socket onto the bolt head. Make sure you tighten the new ones to 33lbs/ft or they will come loose.

Post by **Krisis** » 17 May 2008, 23:01

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

Its nice to see someone else getting stuck into these bearings
Just be careful not to seperate the bearings from one another as they are a right pain to put back togerther

Kris

Post by **chuckle-bus-tom** » 18 May 2008, 15:43

Was back on it at 11 this morning. I followed stuckin88's advice and wrote off a 12mm socket piece to get the last nut out, which is when the fun really started....

The shredded old CV came off no problem and the shaft cleaned up a beaut, but getting the new CV kits on has killed me. And I've not even finished! The amount of hammering needed to get the CV on was ridiculous and the C-clip was really difficult.

I've called it a day with one on and ready to go, and one 3/4s on with the hope of being able to finish it this week ready for the Bank Holiday. The offside (OKish side) work is going to have to wait till I can get down to my folks house and use my Dads workshop and ramps!

The saga of the Chucklebus continues...