CV joint replacement or new axle kit?

[floggingmolly]

I have an 85 Weekender that I bought about a month ago (my first vanagon). 185K miles. The shop (who I trust) says I may need new CV joints, how many will be determined when he takes it apart. I also may need new stub axle bearings. But I got other advice from another shop and a fellow Vanagon onwer that said I should just replace the axles with either rebuilt axles, or new ones from Go Westy. But my shop doesn't do that, so I have to go somewhere else. It seems it will be a cheaper and faster repair just to replace the whole axle that comes with new CV joints. Any advice?

Thanks,
Scott

[gbrandt]

Check the cost! I got a new axel with two CV's attached for only a bit more than a rebuilt CV would cost. something like 140 CAD for the CV and 165 for the entire axle.

Gregor

[r39o]

I had mine replaced. 4 new German Lobro CVs where like $50 US each, plus boot kits. Total was like $250 US for all parts. Add some labor to install

Please note my CV boots failed after just one year for some reason nobody can explain.

The rear bearings do not go bad very frequently. Mine now have over your 185K on them and seem just fine.

Do the axles first and then see about the stub axle bearings.
_________________
"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!

1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....

Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently)

[Randy in Maine]

It is not hard (even for a newbie) to repack those CV joints. Just buy the "repack kit". The 4 of them can be repacked in about a day or less.

The originals were the good lobro joints and when well maintained would outlive the vanagon. Asian joints have not shown to be machined to as tight of a tolerence as the german units.

http://www.type2.com/bartnik/cvjoints.htm

http://www.busdepot.com/catalog.jsp?model=58&category=24

If you do it yourself, make sure you buy the "triplesquare" socket.

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=5796

[Pascal]

I tackled this job a few years ago. I had to replace the two inner CV. It was a full day job for me, spead over a weekend. I used brake cleaner to get all the grease off everything for inspection. Finding a brass drift to get the old CV's off and put the new ones on was not easy. I ended up usung a copper pipe to set the new CV's on, subsequently found some for next time. Like most jobs, gettign everthing lined up takes alot of time. I found lots of instruction on the web for doing the job. This was the one I used the most http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm go to the CV section.

[kasdtech]

If you go the new axle route this place looks like they have a pretty good price on new axles.

http://importeccatalog.com/

Sorry I couldn't get the direct link. You can search for your year, model, etc. It is under Driveshaft and axle. Good Luck.

[kevinbassplayer]

I am getting my van ready for a summer trip to Canada and I'm planning to install new CV joints since my inner boots on both sides are in bad shape and I don't know how old the joints are. From other people I've talked to it sounds like replacing the whole axel with the boots is eaiser? I was planning on ordering them from Van-cafe, it's only a few bucks more. Anyone have any other thoughts?

[tencentlife]

I just noticed VanCafe has 4CV's and boots on special, about $240 for the whole lot. Didn't look at entire axles, though. I just orederd a single joint from them, and it was OEM Lobro.

It's a little easier to R&R entire axles, especially if they come prelubed. Getting the old joints off the axle shaft and the new ones on can be a bit of a bear if you haven't got a press. Some come off pretty easy with a drift, others are a much tighter fit. I just redid the one bad joint on mine, and it was the tightest fit on the splines I've ever seen. I was glad I had a press in my shop, best hundred bucks I ever spent, that day at least.

There is a real difference in joint quality, though. Don't buy entire axles just because they're cheap, if they're not German quality replacements. You'll end up throwing good money after bad somewhere down the road.

[kevinbassplayer]

From Van-cafe:

Description:
NEW-Axle comes assembled with new boots and new joints. These are made in the USA and far superior to the worn out remanufactured ones out there. This is quicker and cleaner job than replacing the boots and joints, but do note that the axle comes with grease that you can squeeze in the boots following installation to get it into the joints. We do recommend getting one additional tube (14 oz.) of grease per pair of axles to add to the joints during installation. Making sure that they are well lubricated insures that they will last longer.

Price is $135. each. total $270. OR

They sell a 4 CV joint "kit"for $234. but they don't say where they were made, which leads me to my next question:

Has anyone out there used the Van-cafe axels or joints, and if so, do tell!

Thanks

[buggnuttz]

Why replace your CV's? If they are not noisy or REALLY loose why not just service them using new cv boots? I have 245000 miles on my 85 and it still has original joints just serviced when needed.
_________________
owned 39 different VWs so far

[mattcfish]

Go the whole axle route. It only costs a little more, but the time you save and lack of mess is totally worth it.
_________________
71 Bay Window
75 BMW 2002
76 BMW R90S
85 Vanagon with 2.2L upgrade

[Van-go108]

Don't cheap out. Buy quality parts. I just recently "cheaped" out and bought 2 Brazilian CV joints for the drivers side and one just shattered within a week and a half. I could'nt believe it I had already done the passenger side with good quality German CV's 2 months prior. There easy to do thank god. Make sure you swap out the axel bolts. I'm wierd about re-manufactured items too. I never had good luck with them.

It must be bad Car-Ma
_________________
"Okay, so there's 6 beers and 5 of us. You know what this means don't you? 4 of you are going to have to leave."


1973 Thing
1957 Continental Mark II Click to view image

[Van-go108]

Fyi...Get the Bentley's Vanagon Bible. It will be a huge help to you. Many times, it would have saved me from those "DUH... it's right there in black and white" senarios.
_________________
"Okay, so there's 6 beers and 5 of us. You know what this means don't you? 4 of you are going to have to leave."


1973 Thing
1957 Continental Mark II Click to view image

[bucko]

[tencentlife]

[ChesterKV]

[kevinbassplayer]

The reason I'm even thinking of doing this (replacing the joints) is that I have no idea if and when they were ever serviced, I've got a torn boot that's been that way for over a year (this is my fault) and I'm getting ready for a long trip this summer (about 4000 miles) so I'm just thinking of items I don't want to have to deal with on the road, CV's being one of them. I guess the low cost option would be to yank em' out and re-pack them if they are ok but if I had to guess they are probably have not been serviced in years

[GeorgeL]

[floggingmolly]

Thanks everyone for some good advice. The diagnosis, without inspection, just a road test, was the CVs and maybe the stub axle bearings. Since my guy will only replace the CVs and won't consider replacing the axles, I have found another reputable shop that can do whatever I want. The noise from the rear is a bit disturbing, and something I want to have checked before heading out on a road trip. I suppose I will have him check the CVs to make sure that is what the problem is, then either go with a reman or new axle from either van-cafe or bus depot (empi). Go Westy says theirs are Chinese and guarantee they are worse than German. Never heard someone guarantee they are worse!

Thanks again for all the feedback, and I'll let you know what we find out.

Scott

[Captain Pike]

On day 2 of ownership you look at ths front wheel bearings,ALL brakes,CVs, exhaust system, ALL filters and fuel lines.
Why worry?
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
.....................All Current.......................