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rustyCamper Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2023 Posts: 55 Location: CA
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 9:49 am Post subject: Flipping CV joint |
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I just got into Yosemite valley when I started hearing clunking coming from the rear. I think it is the cv joint bc it is only making noise when I put my foot in the gas and when I put it into neutral the noise goes away. I have 200 miles to drive home. Would flipping the axels buy me enough time to get home or should I just tow it? _________________ 87 Vanagon GL Country Homes Camper, 2.1L wbx automatic |
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67rustavenger Samba Member

Joined: February 24, 2015 Posts: 11086 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:02 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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If you don't have AAA. It'll be cheaper to replace the axle than having the van towed home.
There's a NAPA fairly close to your current location.
559-683-7440.
Call um and see if they have a replacement axle in stock or in their local warehouse. _________________ I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!
There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!
2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!
Don't let your bad ideas remain, ideas! |
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DanHoug Samba Member

Joined: December 05, 2016 Posts: 5700 Location: Bemidji, MN
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 10:39 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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rustyCamper wrote: |
I just got into Yosemite valley when I started hearing clunking coming from the rear. |
a clunk vs a click is indicative of loose CV joint bolts. take a check, you might just need to tighten things! also, check your lug nuts. _________________ -dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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the_benjamin_effect Samba Member

Joined: May 31, 2010 Posts: 325 Location: Gateway to the North Cascades, Washington State
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 11:32 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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I concur with Dan's assessment above, check the bolts to see if any are loose and tighten to "good-and-tight" until you are able to get a torque wrench if you don't have one.
If you hear/feel a click only on acceleration, in my experience this has been indicative of a worn CV, again in my experience.
Flipping the axel will not change what side of the face the CV sees torque. You need to swap axels from left ---> right (Driver ---> Passenger) to change the torque face of the CV. This may buy you some time to get home.
A grease gun and needle tip poked through the boot works well in a pinch if CV maintenance is in the near future, and you'll be replacing the boots anyhow.
Good Luck!
Ben _________________ -1967 Sundial Camper 1914cc "Sunny"
-1978 Deluxe Westfalia Jake Raby built PowerStroke 2109cc "Westy"
-1987 SYNCRO Westfalia GoWesty 2400cc "Ruby"
-2000 Subaru Impreza Sport EJ22 ยผ million miles "Trusty"
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. I.A.M. 751
International Brotherhood of Naval Flight Engineers. I.B.N.F.E. LOCAL 8251
U.S. NAVY Retired; Senior Chief Flight Engineer, P-3 Orion and EP-3E Aries II
U.S.S. Carl Vinson, VFA-22, VQ-2, VQ-1, VP-30 |
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?Waldo? Samba Member

Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 10015 Location: Where?
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 11:37 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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the_benjamin_effect wrote: |
Flipping the axel will not change what side of the face the CV sees torque. You need to swap axels from left ---> right (Driver ---> Passenger) to change the torque face of the CV. This may buy you some time to get home.
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If the van in question is the one in the OP's signature, then they cannot swap the driveshafts from side to side. The automatics have two different drive shaft lengths. You are correct that flipping the axle will not swap the drive faces, however, it will change where the balls ride on the joint due to gravity pulling the shaft downward (toward the tire). |
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Sodo Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 10639 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 11:51 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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If you drive with a clunking CV joint you risk breaking a ball-cage and then it gets really bad.
Ball-cage could be already cracked, but hasn't yet fallen apart.
Don't drive "clunking".
Here's something you can do out in the woods.
I did this once then drove from Colorado to Seattle (in a '72 Loaf).
Of course forgot about it until the CVs started clunking again a year later.
This was pre-Samba, back when you used to drive cross-country at moment's notice
and vans just ran and ran and ran
and you always felt VW mechanics were scattered everywhere along your route.
===== Van Yoga =====
Jack up the body until the rear wheel is off the ground.
This angles your CVs on that axle to the max.
Rotate the rear wheel by hand a few turns forward and backward.
If you are lucky, this action may find some grease in extended areas,
and spread it onto your dry balls,
relieving some of the sticking and discomfort.
You will know right away if this helped, the relief is instant. _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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Sodo Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 10639 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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the_benjamin_effect wrote: |
A grease gun and needle tip poked through the boot works well in a pinch if CV maintenance is in the near future, and you'll be replacing the boots anyhow. |
You can get better boots with your new CVs too.
===== poking CV boots ======
However.....
I've poked CV boots with a hypodermic-style grease needle
and when you pull the needle out
the hole seals and no grease leaks out.
You can't even find the hole if your method is 'looking for a grease leak'.
I'd poke it in "the middle/flat" section.
Boots never fail in the flat section, they fail in the peaks or valleys of the pleats.
If you can find a grease needle and a greasegun,
there is zero consequence, only benefit, and it's a quick solution to your problem. _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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MarkWard Samba Member

Joined: February 09, 2005 Posts: 18756 Location: Retired South Florida
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 1:24 pm Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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With the van sitting grab the cv axle and move it in and out multiple times. Then grab the opposite side and do the same. This should get some grease in the dry areas. Iโve driven 600 miles home doing this every fill up.
You can also move the cv shaft to a new point by cutting the small end clamps and moving the shaft in the boots. Tie rap to replace the camp.
The last job I would do is pull an axle unless it was broken and I had no choice. Hope this works for you. It should be obvious when you drive off if you improved it. Good luck. |
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Abscate  Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 23873 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 2:07 pm Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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Iโve driven good quality CVS clunking for a year before pulling them, greasing them, and running them another 60,000
Drive the 200 miles home, then post back for all the henny -pennys to see.
Pull them and pack them once home. _________________ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐ ๐ ๐ |
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Sodo Samba Member

Joined: July 06, 2007 Posts: 10639 Location: Western WA
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 2:15 pm Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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Yes I guess you can drive it clunking.
The crystal meth fellers do it,
and Abscate has made it home CVs a clunkin' too.
Towing is a huge hassle and driving home is preferred.
Simple methods to re-lube and stop the clunking is better though, if you can go under the van.
MarkWard wrote: |
With the van sitting grab the cv axle and move it in and out multiple times. Then grab the opposite side and do the same. This should get some grease in the dry areas. |
Ooops..... this is probably easier than jacking one wheel off the ground.
If the axles don't "plunge" left and right (about 1/2 inch) try putting the gearbox in neutral,
and wheels chocked or something, be sure the van doesn't roll when you're under it.
And if the axles still don't plunge left/right then jack the wheels and try that method.
If you go to the trouble of jacking the wheels, then do the plunge thing too, as they axles should plunge MORE, accessing MORE grease.... the higher its raised.
Here's a video of what 'CV axle Plunge" refers to:
https://youtube.com/shorts/rbKv2fhxuw4?si=qAzbghKkHaYx_kDv _________________
'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb |
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Wildthings Samba Member

Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 52340
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 4:16 pm Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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Sliding the boots on the axle to force the shaft either towards or away from the vehicle's centerline may make the noise go away, as may getting a needle fitting for a grease gun and forcing grease between the balls of the CV. Yes flipping the CV end for end may help. |
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rustyCamper Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2023 Posts: 55 Location: CA
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Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2025 10:17 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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Thank you all for the recommendations!! I tried the van yoga per Sodoโs recommendation since that was the simplest thing to try. After working the joint around the clunking went away! I do have AAA but I will try to drive it home since there is no noise right now. Fingers crossed it goes wellโฆ
Now I need to do some yoga like the van after all the climbing. _________________ 87 Vanagon GL Country Homes Camper, 2.1L wbx automatic |
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AndyBees Samba Member

Joined: January 31, 2008 Posts: 2631 Location: Southeast Kentucky
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Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2025 10:45 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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In 1986, driving down the Cassiar Highway in western British Columbia, one or more CV Joints began talking to me. That was my first experience with CVs and had no clue what it was. I drove on for 150 miles or farther. Some nice guys at a service station in Hazelton shot some grease under the boots and worked it in... noise gone.
I had the same thing happen with new CV Joints in 2014 in Dawson City, Yukon. I removed them in the Campground for inspection and greasing... no more noise. _________________ '84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful. |
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khughes Samba Member
Joined: July 13, 2013 Posts: 881 Location: Phoenix AZ
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Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2025 1:32 pm Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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rustyCamper wrote: |
Thank you all for the recommendations!! I tried the van yoga per Sodoโs recommendation since that was the simplest thing to try. After working the joint around the clunking went away! I do have AAA but I will try to drive it home since there is no noise right now. Fingers crossed it goes wellโฆ
Now I need to do some yoga like the van after all the climbing. |
The other thing to check is whether the axle is centered between the CV boots. If it's not, or the boots get bad, the CV axle can clunk against the stub axle. Had that before in the middle of a trip home from San Diego, over the mountains. Clunked under load when turning one direction and not the other. Centered the shaft and clamped the boots down and it quit. For years now (so tomorrow it'll start up I guess...). _________________ '86 Westy FAS GenV Turbo (Marvin) |
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Abscate  Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 23873 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 4:18 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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These joints are grossly over engineered for our piddle tw*T small HP engines and stiff suspensions that resist big changes in CV articulation. A refresh8ng change from stuff today done to razor thin margins.
If you keep suspension stock, CVs run a lifetime in the PM schedule.
If you insist on trying to look kewl, youโll kill them , then replace them with silver cheese junk, then start a thread on bad parts _________________ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐บ๐ธ ๐ ๐ ๐ |
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rustyCamper Samba Member
Joined: December 13, 2023 Posts: 55 Location: CA
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 8:56 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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The van made it home without anymore noise. My boots are not torn but show signs of wear so I tires itโs time to get new boots and repack the joints with fresh grease. _________________ 87 Vanagon GL Country Homes Camper, 2.1L wbx automatic |
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xflyer Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2006 Posts: 313 Location: SOCAL
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 9:33 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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RustyCamper, For best CV maintenance, remove and clean them. Inspect thoroughly.
I had the clunk(ing) some years ago so removed and cleaned the CVs, expecting to find at least one with a wear mark and galling/pitting. All of them looked OK on that basis, but one was clearly not contacting evenly in all the ball grooves. Put in a new joint and boots and all was fine.
Watch out for poorly made CVs. BTW these were the GKN brand.
Quality of parts has gone way down... _________________ 1989 Campmobile, 1984 7 passenger beater Vanagon
Both with cool A/C |
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AndyBees Samba Member

Joined: January 31, 2008 Posts: 2631 Location: Southeast Kentucky
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 9:54 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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Abscate wrote: |
If you insist on trying to look kewl, youโll kill them , then replace them with silver cheese junk, then start a thread on bad parts |
In my case in 2014, all four CV Joints were NOS (new old stock) GKN, made in Germany.
Three things come to mind, 1. Initially, I probably never packed in enough grease. 2. I had been pulling the popup camper for close to 8k miles over about 20 days. and, 3. As I learned later, when I installed the TDI engine in my Van, it was not properly oriented. The rear of the engine was "centered" when, in fact, it should have been slightly to the left.
I'm not sure how much #3 affected the wear and noise on the CV Joints. However, I did replace them later. The new replacement CV Joints made that same trip in 2016 as well as many miles since with no issues. But, during my bumper to bumper maintenance last summer, I did replace them with new GKN joints. I now have an accumulation of used CV Joints > <
I do agree with xflyer, the quality of parts now days has taken a nose dive! _________________ '84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful. |
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harvgwen Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2021 Posts: 292 Location: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 10:08 am Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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Andy, you obviously like that trip. Weโre planning to do it later this summer. _________________ 1986 Westfalia Vanagon, 2.2 Subaru
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia |
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AndyBees Samba Member

Joined: January 31, 2008 Posts: 2631 Location: Southeast Kentucky
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2025 12:12 pm Post subject: Re: Flipping cv joint |
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harvgwen wrote: |
Andy, you obviously like that trip. Weโre planning to do it later this summer. |
Yes sir! We love the north country.
I've been working on my Van as I find the time. I need to update my Bumper to Bumper Maintenance thread that I started last June.
We are hoping to do one more trip north. Father time has been closing in on us.
An alternate trip would be to the east coast on up to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia ............and, maybe ferry over to Labrador/Newfoundland.
Due to personal circumstances, we'll not be heading anywhere until July 9th. _________________ '84 Vanagon Tin-top, ALH TDI, two trips to Alaska, 2014 & 16. 1989 Tin-top unmolested.
1983 Air-cool, 225k miles, 180k miles mine, seven trips to Alaska from 1986 thru 2003. 1975 Bay hopeful. |
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