8 replies to this topic

[benallen]

hello! i have a problem with my balls

ive tried using the search to find an answer to my question for a while but cant find the exact answer.

one of the ball bearings on the inner cv joint had come out, but it clicked back into the metal housing on the drive shaft. a couple of balls also clipped back into place. theres no major visable wear on the metal cage.

so i was wondering if this is ok? or does it require replacing.

thanks, ben

[tiger99]

There is something very wrong, and it needs to be fixed urgently, because if the balls are coming out, and the cause becomes worse, the driveshaft may disengage completely. If that happens at speed, a flailing shaft may rip through the bulkhead and result in serious injury or death.

Now, as to the cause. It can't normally happen, because the shafts and everything elese are dimensioned so that the joint is always adequately engaged. Possible causes are drive shaft too short (drum and disc brakes are slightly different lengths, and left and right differ by 2 inches), engine moving about on worn mounts, shaft going too far into outer joint due to the thick circlip missing, or hub moved outboard too far due to having too much negative camber, which may also endanger the balljoints.

Most likely is failed engine mounts. Having the top and bottom steadies to handle torque tends to make failure of the main mounts less obvious. But you should also feel for the circlips through the outer joint gaiters, and if in doubt remove to check. You may know enough of the history of the car to be sure that the correct shafts are fitted. If not, you may need to measure their length. You will know if you have lots of negative camber.

[benallen]

thanks for your reply! i am just sorting out all the brakes/drive shafts for my minis rebuild so not like im driving around with it :). when i took it off the road the engine mounts and subframe mounts where all completely shot and there was alottt of engine movement. so im guessing thats whats caused the problem like you have said!

i did have a feeling that it was a bad thing to be happening so i will get on and fit new cv joints. im guessing its a good idea to replace the gaitors as well or is this not nessecary (as i need to keep the cost down )

thanks. ben

[tiger99]

You don't need new joints if there is no visible damage, and the balls are put back in the joint they came from (sizes vary). Depending on how they look, you may want new gaiters, although the inner gaiters do not wear as quickly as the outers. 100k miles is not uncommon.

You do need the special grease, available from Mini suppliers, to lubricate them after cleaning, which you do need to do if balls have come out. The original grease for the inner pot joints seems to be no longer available, but most suppliers will sell you the proper outer CV grease, a molybentone type, which is ok for both.

[benallen]

right so because the engine will be steady its ok to still use the same cv joints? aslong as the balls have been put back in the original holes?

also to clean them has to be done with petrol am i right?

[bmcecosse]

Clean with rags etc - no real need for petrol - just make sure there is no grit in there. Did you have the driveshaft out of the hub when this happened - or the hub out of the ball joints ?

[benallen]

oh really thanks for the info. it came out whilst i was removing the driveshaft from the engine if i remember right, it was a while ago. on the other cv joint when i was inspecting them today most clicked back in a little.

[tiger99]

Oh, you are naughty, you should have mentioned that! I thought that they had come out with the car all bolted together, which as I said would indicate serious problems with something like the mounts. Coming apart while shafts are undone is not uncommon, and as bmcecosse says, just needs a clean and re-grease.

[benallen]

sorry! didnt realise i hadnt explained it properly. well thats alright then cheers :) thanks alot for the help!