AWR-Fix: Outer CV Joint tips

[andrewwynn]

Just replaced an outer CV joint.

It's about $80 for OEM joint from Fcpeuro; crazy value to replace just the outer joint.

Engineered a couple tricks that should definitely help somebody out.

Main tips:

• remove the top shock tower bolt leave the bottom one loose to let you manipulate the axle end out when needed.

• leave the axle nut on (loose is ok), will make it easier to pry out the axle

• I used a tool meant to grab a tie rod to grab the axle to pry it out of the old joint.



The bolts beyond were spacers since the tie rod clamp was too big to grip axle by itself.

• be ready for a fight it took well over 1000-1500# of force to pull my axle out of the joint

• use floor jack under steering knuckle to hold up the weight Soo it won't pull on the brake line.

• installing, I used a vice grips on the axle, resting against the subframe to allow me to hammer the end of the new axle end



• I recommend having a spare or two circlip: I had two new and the original. All three for damaged I had to refurbish one to get it to install.

• it should only take 3-4 hits with a BFH to set the new joint. If it doesn't, pull off and check the clip

• I made a spline cleaning tool out of an old axle end; I pound it through the hub a few times to scrub out any rust

• test fit the joint both in the hub and on the axle without the circlip to make sure it fits all the way on

• a metal tool in the rotor vents works well too hold the hub when torquing on the axle nut.

• 310 ft·lb/ 420 N·m on the axle nut. Do some math with a big breaker bar and your body weight to figure that out (or use a torque multiplier or torque wrench extension to get high enough torque)



• Leave the strut tower loose until you get the axle back in the hub.

Post to this thread if you need to tackle this job. It was definitely effort to pull the axle out of the old joint and was tedious to get the new one on with the circlip jamming things up.

Took a few hours do to the fighting with stuck parts but it's a straightforward job. 6/10 difficulty.