Inner CV Joint, Checking: Notes

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2011 Volkswagen CC, 2010 Volkswagen CC, and 2009 Volkswagen CC. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Removing

The CV joint must be disassembled to replace dirty grease or for checking the ball bearings and ball tracks for wear and damage.

-- Swivel the ball hub and the ball cage.

Fig 1: Identifying Direction To Press Out Ball Joint Housing

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-- Remove the ball cage in the -direction of the arrow-.

-- Remove the ball bearings from the cage.

NOTE:

The ball hub and joint piece are paired. Do not interchange.

-- Flip out the ball hub from the ball cage via the running path of the ball bearing -arrows-.

Fig 2: Identifying Tilt Direction To Flip Ball Hub Out Of Ball Cage Over Ball Track

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-- Check the joint piece, ball hub, ball cage and ball bearings for small broken off depressions (pitting buildup) and chafing.

Excessive circumferential backlash in the CV joint makes itself noticed via tip-in shock. The CV joint must be replaced in such cases. Flattening and running marks on the ball bearings are no reason to replace the CV joint.

Installing

-- Insert the ball hub into the ball cage via the two chamfers. The installed position is random. Press the ball bearings into the cage.

Fig 3: Inserting Ball Hub Over Both Chamfers Into Ball Cage

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The ball hub has 2 different distances between the ball tracks, a large and a small.

-- Insert the hub with cage and ball bearings upright into the joint piece, the smaller space -b- must face toward the open side of the joint piece when doing this.

Fig 4: Identifying Wide Space On Joint Housing Aligned With Narrow Space On Hub

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-- Also note the chamfer on the inner diameter of the ball hub, it must be visible after swiveling in.

-- Swing in the ball hub; to do so, swing out the hub far enough out of the cage -arrows- (as shown in the illustration).

Fig 5: Ball Hub Installed With Hub Able To Be Swivelled Out Of Cage

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-- Swing in the hub with ball bearings by pressing forcefully onto the cage -arrow-.

Fig 6: Identifying Cage Pressed Firmly Until Hub Is In Position

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