CV Joints

CV Joints

CV Joints allow a drive shaft to transmit power through a variable angle, at constant rotational speed, without an appreciable increase in friction or play. They are mainly used in front wheel drive vehicles. Wear of the boot often takes the form of small cracks because the wheel produces most of the vibration from up and down motions. Cracks and tears in the areas closer to the axle are usually caused by external factors. Aging and chemical damage can also cause boot failure. We can do a comprehensive inspection on all your CV joints to ascertain the problem.

Maintenance

Because the joint is protected from the ingress of grit and dust by a rubber boot and runs in grease, no maintenance is necessary except for a regular inspection of the boot for damage or splits. Failure to notice a split and renew the boot will inevitably result in the joint running dry and premature failure. You can also test by sound, you will hear a knocking sound while cornering, especially on full lock, the joint is under maximum stress and if there is any wear the knock will be most noticeable; any noise means renewal is called for.

There are two ways to cope with boot damage:

• The easy way is to fit a split type; they’re universal and no dismantling is necessary. Simply cut to fit, slip over the joint and apply glue.
• Fit an original equipment type of boot, some disassembly is required and should be done by an approved mechanic with the technical ‘know how’.

Check out this video of a CV joint: