Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Inner CV Joint, Checking
It is necessary to disassemble the joint whenever replacing the grease or if the ball surfaces show wear or damage.
Ball hub and joint piece are paired. Before removing, mark in relation to each other using a waterproof felt-tip pen.
Removing
-- Swing ball hub and ball cage.
-- Press out ball joint housing in direction of -arrow-.
-- Press balls out of cage.
-- Flip out ball hub from ball cage via running path of ball -arrows-.
-- Check joint piece, ball hub, ball cage and balls for small broken off depressions (pitting build-up) and chafing.
Excessive backlash in joint will be noticed as a knock during load changes. Joint must be replaced in such cases. Flattening and running marks of balls are no reason to replace joint.
Installing
Installation is the reverse of removal, with special attention to the following:
-- Insert ball hub into ball cage via two chamfers. The installation position is at random. Press balls into cage.
-- Insert hub with cage and balls upright into joint piece.
When inserting, make sure that in each case the wide gap -a- at joint piece contacts narrow gap -b- at hub after swinging in.
Chamfer on inner diameter of ball hub (splines) must face large diameter of joint piece.
Use the felt-tip pen markings made during removal to help with installation.
-- Swing in ball hub, to do this swing out hub far enough from cage -arrows- so that the balls have the distance of the running paths.
-- Swing in hub with balls by pressing forcefully onto cage -arrow-.
CV Joint, Checking for Function
CV joint is properly assembled, if ball hub can be slid back and forth by hand over whole compensation length.
NO RELATED
Use the Manual With the Right Hardware
Pair factory procedures with proven DIY tools so the instructions are easier to execute.
Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.