20 replies to this topic

[Beddo88]

Ok.. got to a stopping point in replacing the CV joint on my mini, haynes mentions a special tool which 'will greatly simplify the task'. I just wondered how i could go abuot getting hold of one? Part number (18G1243) The other option is using some metal and some brute force, but im confused as to where this metal is supposed to go. Haynes doesnt explain it very well.

I believe my inner joint is an offset sphere type? Its a standard 998cc Mini City '88

Any help greatly appreciated, i need the car on the road in a couple of days!!

[liirge]

Get 2 screwdrivers, and prise the pot joint off!
its the easiest and cheapest method!

[Beddo88]

Get 2 screwdrivers, and prise the pot joint off!
its the easiest and cheapest method!

As in one at the top and one at the bottom of the joint? flat with the driveshaft or using the sunk in bit? thats whats confusing about the wonderfully badly explained haynes.

[Sleepy Stu]

Also have a read of this thread think i posted a link in it somewhere for the tool but it is hideously expensive!

Clicky

[Beddo88]

Ok.. i've just re-read what i've written and understand why i've got these answers. Its actually the outer Cv joint that i'm replacing, and i need to get the driveshaft off to remove and swap it. Sorry for the confusion there guys, its how to remove the driveshaft from the inner CV joint im looking for!

[liirge]

OOOh,
Hold the drive shaft in your hand with the CV pointing to the floor.
and literally Hammer the CV off, its held on by a cir clip, and brute force is needed to open the clip a bit.

[Beddo88]

Is that with the drive shaft still on the car? Or with it removed? I'm currently havingh problems with the removing of the driveshaft lol

[GraemeC]

You don't need to remove the driveshaft to remove the outer CV. Remove the hub then hold the shaft and simply knock the CV off it with a good sized hammer - will take some swift sharp blows.

If you do need to remove the driveshaft the easy (possibly bodge) way is to take the gaiter of the inner pot joint then simply pull the driveshaft out of the pot taking the gaiter, cage and balls with it. Take care not to lose the balls and stick a latex glove over the end of both the shaft and the joint to keep cr@p out and the bits in.

The special tool for removing the shaft from the pot joint in situ is, as far as I'm aware, no longer available.

[Beddo88]

Excellent, cheers guys!! Got there in the end, sorry for the rather long winded and confusing explanations i gave!

[Beddo88]

Ok... so i still cant get the joint detached from the driveshaft. Its moved, (abuot 6-7mm of spline visible) but wont seem to budge any further. To add to that i now get a metallic thunk everytime i hit the thing. Considering removing driveshaft now, so how do i go abuot that without the approriate tool? (might i add without pulling everything apart??)

Edited by Beddo88, 08 September 2008 - 01:13 PM.

[Sleepy Stu]

Leave the pot joint in place and just remove the driveshaft with the cup and balls!! If you want to remove the pot joint then you need to drain the oil!

A good tug should see the driveshaft, cup and balls come out of the pot joint?

Howeve if you have already dislodged the circlip on the cv joint i cant see why it wont come off?

[Beddo88]

Nor can i I'm thinking that seems the best idea. The driveshaft already seems to be free from the joint, so i'll just undo the gaitor and pull. Will there be a cir clip on the driveshaft that will need replacing? As i've only got one to do the outer joint end with. This seemed so much simpler in the haynes...

[Dan]

If you look into the end of the rubber of the inner CV joint you can see what you need to strike in order to remove the shaft without dismantling the joint or draining the oil. You can feel it too, there is a shoulder of steel on the end of the shaft. The shaft itself curves outwards a little way and then there is the shoulder of the inner CV joint's inner member. It's the part the rubber is tied to so it's where you can't easily lift the rubber away from. It seems solid and like a single piece and is hard to identify the first time you look because it's quite subtle. Believe me though it is definitely a seperate piece and will seperate if you strike it hard enough, unless it's rusted in place (that's probably what's happened to the outer joint by the way). You need to drive it very straight along the shaft and is tricky on your own because you really need three hands. You need to pull the shaft a little way out of the joint so there is some clearance for the member to move and keep the tension on it so it doesn't move under the blow, then using a blunt cold chisel or a heavy strike through screwdriver with a hammer you strike the edge of the inner member hard. It will surprise you how easy it is to pop it off when you get it right, it's about technique and can't really be taught on an internet forum. Hope that helps.

[GraemeC]

Dan's way is the correct way rather than the 'bodge' I described - slightly more difficult but odes mean you keep the joint together and can't lose the balls! It might mean you need a new circlip but you would probably be able to re-use the existing.
With the bodge method you will not be distrurbing the inner circlip as you are effectively taking the pot joint apart rather than removing it.

As said though, it is strange you can't knock the outer joint off, rust may have got hold but if you are sure it has moved once then it should give. You probably have it sat aginst the circlip rather than over it yet - a good thwack with a heavy hammer aimed at the centre of the CV (not the outer edge) should see if pop off. You will need to hold the shaft firm (preferably pushed into the pot joint) to make sure that the hammer blow doesn't just move the whole assembly but tries to knock the joint off. Again 3 hands are useful!
Its not the easiest place to get a good swing though!

Edited by GraemeC, 08 September 2008 - 01:48 PM.

[Beddo88]

Ok.. well went for removing the shaft with bits eh al attached. But the outer joint is definately very well attached and going no where fast not really sure where to go with this now. I've got a pound hammer and even that isnt making a difference. short of a sledge hammer im stuck!

NEWS... Finally off. Just need a hell of a lot more hammerin! Altho i think i've managed to break part of the cage which is now stuck on the driveshaft, so shall remove that and get onto cleaning her up

I'll probably be back on here in another couple of hours! Thanks for the help so far... keep it comign!

Edited by Beddo88, 08 September 2008 - 01:59 PM.