outer CV removal - where is the circlip?

[cn90]

1+,

It is much easier to open the tangs on the INNER side. Then replace both rubber boots.
This is based on the assumption that the outer CV Joint has not been damaged yet.

[erikv11]

OK here is my experience:

As people posted above, the circlip is accessible in a recess and I just had to rotate the joint, I saw it right away when I went back to the job:

the circlip is visible in the recess as two short copper-colored tangs

For removal of the outer CV, it wasn't going anywhere when I banged on it pretty hard without touching the circlip. So I put a screwdriver in there as cn90 describes in the tutorial, easily rotated it to hold the circlip wide, placed a drift on the star-shaped arm next to the recess and tapped on with a 3 lb hammer. 4 or 5 heavy taps and the joint was over the circlip and moving outward, it was really easy.

Outer CV joint dislodged and partway off, you can now see the separated ends of the circlip in the recess.

To refill with grease, I held the CV joint in my hand and squirted about 75% of the 80 ml grease packet deep into that hole in the middle of the CV, where the axle shaft inserts. I basically squirted until the grease started to come back through the bearings, indicating the CV joint was full. I put the remaining small amount of grease just inside the new boot, and buttoned it up.

Total time spent with the axle on the bench was just under an hour, and I work slowly. Changing the boots is pretty easy. I was lucky, I didn't have to meticulously clean out the CV like you would with dirt contamination.

[erikv11]

Are you just changing the boots? You can do the outer by removing the inner joint (No tools needed, just slides off) and sliding the outer boot on down the entire length of the shaft.

I was only changing the boot on the outer CV, it was cracked. Inner boot is flexible with no sign of wear. This axle is on my parts car which I still drive around as a beater for hauling etc, I just want to keep it on the road and preserve the factory CV, so I didn't want to mess with the inner boot.

[misha]

Thanks for follow-up!

[polskamafia mjl]

Are you just changing the boots? You can do the outer by removing the inner joint (No tools needed, just slides off) and sliding the outer boot on down the entire length of the shaft.

I'm doing both. How does the inner CV joint come apart? If it just slides off what keeps it from coming apart while driving?

EDIT: I believe I've figured it out. There's a circlip that needs to be removed and then the inner joint can be tapped off. How does the circlip on the inner joint differ from the outer? What makes it easier to remove?

[precopster]

On the inner CV there is a spider joint as it's named. The circlip will be visible once you clean away the grease. It's an engineers circlip with a hole on each side of a flat section. You'll need a circlip pliers to remove it though the other day I managed to get one off with a flat screwdriver. Make sure it goes back on the same way as there is a top and bottom. The correct way will allow the spider joint to slide freely down the splined shaft.

[cn90]

...How does the inner CV joint come apart? If it just slides off what keeps it from coming apart while driving?...

To disassemble the INNER Joint, there are 2 separate issues:
1. Separating it from the housing (after the boot is removed).
- NA Axle is easier, open the tangs and slide it out.
- Turbo Axle: I don't know how to do it, so I disconnected the OUTER Joint.

2. Once the INNER Tripod is out, at the very end, you see a circlip, use a snap-ring pliers to undo it.
So, to answer your question: INNER circlip is different from OUTER circlip.

Here is the INNER Circlip, I took this photo from another thread:

[erikv11]

If you do take it apart polskamafia, it would be great to get some pictures of the actual Volvo setup. Looks like with snap ring pliers the inner circlip should be cake.

[polskamafia mjl]

Looks like with snap ring pliers the inner circlip should be cake.

Unfortunately with all the grease removed I still can't find the circlip on the inner joint. Any idea which part of the joint I should be looking at to find it? CN90 mentioned the NA axles are easier; I'm working on a turbo so perhaps it's not so easy on this axle.

EDIT: After looking over the Hayne's procedure I have learned that the inner joint on the turbo axles requires one to bend the folded collar up to allow the tripod joint to slide out.

[erikv11]

Alas I do not have experience with removing the inner CV, I was just considering what precopster posted. We likely need to hear from precopster or someone else who has actually done some of these.