anti seize or grease on inner cv axle splines?

Post by **JDS60R** » 12 May 2010, 08:48

I want to make sure you are talking about the outer CV joint and splines ( by wheel) as nothing should go on the inner CV joint splines (in transmission) other than the lubricating oil the transmission uses.

When dealing with the CV axle to the hub bearing there are a couple of issues on some cars.
Axle ping for the newer cars is a problem where they hear the axle smaking inside the hub bearing when stopping etc.
For this condition many dealers tried loctite to keep the axle from moving. It did not last a long time so the fix was found in an xc90 axle bolt. MOst with axle ping switch over to the XC90 axle bolt ( has a rubber stopper on it) and the problem resolves.

In your car you are not dealing with that issue. The grease is there eleviate dry wearing of the splines and to make it easy to remove. An industrial grease with a high pound out rating is perfect her as well as antisieze. The charactersists you are looking for is to lock out air so corrosion does not sieze the splined shaft to the hub bearing as well a some slight lubrication to keep it from moving dry.

Post by **wheelsup** » 12 May 2010, 08:51

Also I'm not sure it's wise to put anti-seize on the splines where it's hooked into the transmission. You will have anti-seize mixing with tranny fluid and cycling thru your tranny. Thoughts on that? OK or not OK? I vote not OK.

Post by **j_cd** » 12 May 2010, 08:57

There's a seal on there that should keep anything from getting into the transmission. So let's see if I've got this right, I don't want to put anything on the end that goes into the transmission. I'll have to ask my neighbor if he put grease on that end or not. I think maybe he just put it on the outside then.

Oh wow, that's a nice tutorial there. As for draining the transmission, no more than half a quart came out when we did the drivers side axle, so I'll just put a pan there to catch it.

Post by **JDS60R** » 12 May 2010, 09:09

The seal at the transmission will not keep anything you put on the splines from going into the transmission. The seal is there to keep the internal fluid (once the shaft is compltely in) from splashing out. Mixing antisieze or grease with transmission fluid is a bad idea - very bad. The extreme pressure agents will hurt the clutch material and the unit will live a short life.

Minimal risk on grease if the transmission is a manual transmission without any clutch packs.

Post by **confused_al** » 12 May 2010, 09:16

j_cd wrote:I'm pretty sure my neigbor put some grease on the splines where it slides into the transmission, but the guy who wrote the volvospeed tutorial uses anti seize.

You shouldn't put any grease nor anti-seize on this side at all! It should coat with ATF only! It is HUB side the guy on VS put anti-seize on.

Post by **cn90** » 12 May 2010, 09:20

On the OUTER side (Hub), Volvo procedure calls for using loctite.
I think it is bogus because loctite makes future removal very difficult.

When I replaced my CV boots 2 years ago, I used antiseize on the spline at the hub to make future removal easier.
What keeps the hub in place is the large 36-mm nut, and not the loctite.
Anyway 2 years later, no issues with using antiseize.

Post by **j_cd** » 12 May 2010, 09:23

Got it! No grease on inner splines, outers only. Thanks guys.

Hey anyone know the size of those A-arm bolts? I think I read 16mm somewhere, but in one picture they look smaller than that.

Post by **cn90** » 12 May 2010, 09:33

Actually, looking back at this, a bit of antiseize on the inner splines would do no harm.

Post by **j_cd** » 12 May 2010, 09:39

There seem to be differing opinions on this. Sounds like it might be best to avoid goop where the axle goes into the tranny.

Oh BTW, I just checked the bolts on the control arm. The front one is 15mm and the rear one is 18mm. They look like they're gonna be a pain to get off, but probably way less trouble than the ball joint. I do have a ball joint separator, but still, I'd rather not tear another boot.

Post by **j_cd** » 12 May 2010, 09:52

I just called my neighbor who replaced the drivers side axle a few weeks ago. He's in Anchorage, Alaska at the moment. He said "Nooo, the only thing you'd ever want to put on the inner spline where it mates to the transmission is Vaseline (if you need to), as it breaks down harmlessly in the fluid." Like I said, this guy knows his stuff pretty well.

I also asked him about detaching the control arm instead of prying on the ball joint. He said he tried that, but they were torqued on there too tight, so we'll see. I'll probably repalce the control arm/ball joints at some point anyway.

anti seize or grease on inner cv axle splines?

Re: anti seize or grease on inner cv axle splines?