24 replies to this topic

[MasterD78]

I am having a insanely difficult time removing the driveshaft from the outer CV joint.  The Circlip just won't allow it to come out.  What tips or tricks do you all use for this?  I'm honestly at a loss.  Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[nicklouse]

hang it CV down and hit it hard. softfaced hammer is best if you plan on keeping the CV as you can damage the CV.

[Spider]

It sounds like the C Clip on the very end of the shaft has dislodged and rather than compressing back in to it's groove, it's now likely jammed in the splines.

 

I've found when that happens, there's not much for it other than to belt them a good few times very hard as you need to shear the C Clip (which is on the inside).

 

However, there was a tool someone posted up not long ago that looked like it may do the job if it can grip the drive shaft well enough.

 

Something like this;-

 

 

<Edit for spelling - thanks Rolf   my fingers are 'fools' mate >

Edited by Moke Spider, 14 September 2017 - 06:06 AM.

[Ben_O]

A vice and a big hammer is all you need

[minidaves]

unless one of the poorly machined newer cv joints, works good luck come to mind

[Rorf]

Moke did you say a fool with a tool

 

You need spell check

[DJS911]

Just holding the drive shaft vertically in one hand and hitting the CV joint with a copper mallet worked fine for me.
It took a few thwacks but then just popped off (mind your feet though!).

[tiger99]

As has been suggested, it will need one big whack. An accumulation of soft taps don't work, as the clip springs back every time. But you can start gently to get your aim correct, then just give it all you have got. Beware of a flying CV! I find it best to hold the shaft vertically in a bench vice, towards one side so that the CV will hang down below the vice, put something soft but not bouncy on the floor, like sawdust in a bucket, and give it a good downward blow.

 

A copper faced hammer is best, preferably nice and heavy. A hard plastic face on a heavy hammer head may also work. NEVER risk a hard hammer face, even if the CV is scrap and you are wearing eye protection, as there is a real risk of ejecting high energy fragments. (As a matter of course, hard hammers must never meet each other, or hard metal, but you can safely hammer mild steel.)

 

It is possible to assemble the CV with the inner part facing the wrong way, with the chamfer outwards and the step on the inside. If that has happened, it may be that the clip will never release, and it would then be best to cut right through the CV with an angle grinder to access the clip and save the shaft. Such a thing has happened on this forum, so always check before inserting the shaft into the CV! You should see the stepped bore for the thick circlip to seat against, not a chamfer. It is very easy to spin the inner member around, with the ball cage, so that all is well.

[whistler]

I'm afraid I had to resort to an angle grinder to remove mine; rusted solid to splines. Cut nearly through and just a whack with a steel chisel cracked it. No splines were hurt in the procedure.

[russo]

Yip, could be gas axe material now. I have found a gentle but hard pull on the CV to compress the circlip, make sure the CV is parallel to the shaft, then a hard sharp hit with a weighty copper hammer. Otherwise once that circlip distorts or bends it ain't going to happen.

[MasterD78]

So just to be clear, hang it vertically in a bench vice with something soft but not bouncy underneath and I hit it with a heavy copper hammer.  On the driveshaft or on the CV is my last question.  Thanks for all the input.  Very helpful, I'm looking to get the car back in action and this is giving me a headache.

[Northernpower]

So just to be clear, hang it vertically in a bench vice with something soft but not bouncy underneath and I hit it with a heavy copper hammer.  On the driveshaft or on the CV is my last question.  Thanks for all the input.  Very helpful, I'm looking to get the car back in action and this is giving me a headache.

On mine I didn't need to hold it in a vice just held the drive shaft downwards, removed the old boot and hit the cv with the copper mallet.

[DJS911]

So just to be clear, hang it vertically in a bench vice with something soft but not bouncy underneath and I hit it with a heavy copper hammer.  On the driveshaft or on the CV is my last question.  Thanks for all the input.  Very helpful, I'm looking to get the car back in action and this is giving me a headache.

You hit it on the CV joint.

[Spider]

Moke did you say a fool with a tool

 

You need spell check

 

Spelling is fine mate, need a butter finger check,,,,,

 

Fool,,, tool,,,, one in the same aren't they?

[MatthewsDad]

The tool highlighted by Moke Spider above is cheap and simple to use, even for me. If you're happy striking the joint with a hammer, that's fine, but I personally found this tool invaluable when I removed the CV joints.