ludestarbai

Hi all...

93 Vtec-5spd

Since i'm doing my 5 lug conversion, I figure I may as well change my cv joint since its not looking too good anyway.

I got the passenger out and it isn't in good shape...

I'm not positive my drivers side is in BAD shape, that is the boot doesn't appear to be ripped...

I guess my first question is... how do I know if its bad?

I'm not LOOOKING to replace stuff that doesn't need to be replaced... but the car has 157k miles on it, I have NO IDEA when the previous owner changed em' and its a ***** to get that knuckle out and dont wanna have to take it apart again in a few months just for this again... Would rather just do it now IF ITS in bad shape.

No sounds coming from it, no vibrations that I can tell...

And lastly, the passenger side was a ***** to pry out.... but I did it... the driver's side LOOKs a little more intimidating beacuse of the shaft coming from the transmission....

so the 2nd question is... the cv axle slips out of this shaft right? I dont replace everything from transmission allll the way to the wheel bearing right?

And how do you pop it out of that axle if thats what is to be done? The passenger side is simple you just shove a screw driver in there and pry until it comes loose... but for some reason i'm afraid to put pressure on that shaft... (if thats whats to be done) -- is there some kind of special tool for this or does it just pry out same as the passenger side?

Lastly, That shaft that connects the tranny to the driver's side cv axle on my car looks kinda rusted up... Should that concern me? Is that something that is typically replaced when the cv is done?

Thanks in advance for all the tips advice guys!

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jsmooney

it's easier, but harder at the same time. The shaft fits into the intermediate shaft, so you dont have to pull it out of the trans. (no changing trans fluid, yay!!!!...but wait). the shaft has to slid out straight or else it won't slide out. that means equal force on the joint. It went easy for me once, the first time, not so easy.

ludestarbai

sounds hard to do on your back underneath the car... is it better to just start pulling on it by grabbing the axle spline standing towards the side of the car?

I'm just trying to figure out the best way to get it out.

I already drained my tranny fluid last night because A. I planned on changing it anyway, and B. I had to take out the passenger side axle as it is... remember thats the one thats actually bad for sure.

I need help to figure out if its worth changing the driver's side too at this time... how do I know if its bad... or starting to go bad?

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G_Loc

Driver's side was difficult to remove the first time I did it. Then I perfected a technique to get it out. I jammed the handle portion of a 1/2" (or was it 3/8"?) ratchet in the gap where the intermediate shaft block mount is and the inner CV joint is. I then banged on the wrench with a rubber mallet until it broke loose. Then I simply pulled it off. I've done it about 3 times this way.

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jsmooney

^^ it's all about figuring it out. Once you get the end of the shaft out, it's easy and less messy (if there is such a thing)

ludestarbai

thanks for the tips guys... I'll try that out!

But the more pressing question is how to know if its bad?

the boots and everthing on it appears to be perfectly normal and it wasn't making any noises.

The only reason its suspect to me is that the passenger side was so bad its wierd that the driver's side isn't.... OF COURSE unless the previous owner already did it and only did the dirver's side at thet ime.

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jsmooney

of course ^^

The driver side could be fine. As long as it isn't clicking/grinding/etc then it's fine. As long as the boot is ok, the joint should be ok

ludestarbai

okay well for now I'd rather save the $70 on another one...

Thanks for the tip/s help guys... really appreciate it!

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