Driveshaft and CV

[Chris J]

I've got the drive shaft off my car with the outer CV joint still attached. The joint should come off the driveshaft without much persuasion shouldn't it? 'Trouble is, there's something locating it (still) on the drivshaft. I wonder if something's got burred over on the end of the shaft? Has anyone else had anything similar happen?

The CV will HAVE to come off because for one thing if probably won't fit the Integrale drive flange that I want to use. I can't use any other drive shaft, because it's a Honda to Lancia type and the CV boot could do with renewing in any case.

[Chris J]

I'll have a go at the other side one in the mean time.

[CorseChris]

Depending on the joint, there 'might' be an internal circlip hiding inside the grease on the 'inner' face that needs releasing rather than a snap ring on the outer end (that would normaly just pull or tap out).

Chances are, if you are having to pull/hit very hard, there is something hiding!

[Chris J]

Chances are, if you are having to pull/hit very hard, there is something hiding!

Thanks Chris. That's what I thought. The funny thing is, with the rubber boot pulled back out of the way, I can see the C clip in the groove and the joint is clear of it. The joint moves freely on the shaft between the C clip and whatever is stopping the joint clearing the end of the shaft.

I've been hitting it with a rawhide mallet and then a lump hammer and a piece of wood. I don't fancy hitting it any harder than I have up to now. I have done this job before, but I can't remember having any problem. If I remember, it took more like a big tap than a big wallop?

I see there was another thread recently started by Brent where Guy says to hit it quite hard. I might take a photo, just in case that throws any light on it. I have'nt done the same with the other side yet, so I can't compare the two until I have.

[CorseChris]

Mm, puzzler then. I had a bit of a fight with a 164 a while back when it needed a new CV boot. In the end, I took the whole assembly off the car, put the shaft in the trusty workmate and whacked the inner section of the joint from above with a long drift (chunk of thick wall 1" stainless tube). It gave up in the end.

[guy mayers]

Can you wash the grease out of the joint with paraffin or petrol so you can get a better look at the ring? If it's a Beta then it should be a C shaped piece or wire and the only way to remove it is with force. Shaft in a vice, CV facing down and a big hammer. And something to protect shins/toes! Anything other than a Beta and I'm not qualified to give advice!
Guy

[strat6v]

I second guys advice. There will be a split wire ring on the blind side, so the only way is to hit it hard.

[guy mayers]

Just thought of something, if there is a spacer/collar over the splines before the CV joint that indicates the wire type retainer as it's used to keep it in place when assembling the driveshaft.
Guy

[Chris J]

Thanks Guy, Chris S. John.

Yes it is a Beta CV at this end.

The wire 'C' clip I can see is the inner one. I'd forgotten (for some strange reason, maybe something to do with working on Minis?) that there is a 'C' clip on the outer end. The outer one is my problem, and it's the same with both shafts. I've tried to do the job as you describe, but it isn't going to work. I don't want to hit it any harder than I have done already. I know how these joints should come off. Just to reassure myself, I tried the same thing (in a vice facing down as you described) with a spare Rover 800 one that I've got lying around. A couple of taps and it was off. 'Looks as if I'm going to have to grind the Beta CV up into pieces to get it off. I don't need the CVs as it turns out because they won't fit the Evo flanges/hubs. They've got short splines. They're not new in any case. Having said that, I still don't like trashing them, but what can I do? I don't want to risk damaging the shafts, they're custom Honda inner/Beta outer jobs.

[Chris J]

Just thought of something, if there is a spacer/collar over the splines before the CV joint that indicates the wire type retainer as it's used to keep it in place when assembling the driveshaft.
Guy

I couldn't see any spacer/collar there Guy?

[strat6v]

cut the outer joint off and protect the shafts.

[guy mayers]

I couldn't see any spacer/collar there Guy?

Sometimes they are in little bits buried in the grease ready to jam the races solid....
Back to wash it out with paraffin and get a better look at the retaining clip. If it's reound it's the wire clip, flat it's a circlip of some description.

Guy

[Chris J]

Guy,
I've already started to cut one of the Beta CVs off as John says. Then I'll know what's what.

Thanks for the advice so far.

[Chris J]

Whilst I trying out a test of the self same job on the Rover shaft, I noticed that the Beta hub nut fits the Rover 827 CV. It's the same thread. Maybe lots of other cars have the same thread? There's ONE anyhow?

[mogul_x]

The outer one is my problem, and it's the same with both shafts. I've tried to do the job as you describe, but it isn't going to work. I don't want to hit it any harder than I have done already. I know how these joints should come off.

If it's any consolation, I had to hit mine REALLY HARD to get the outer CV joint past the retaining ring. I used a 5 lb. brass hammer and an overhead stroke. The only other time I've swung a hammer that hard was driving railroad spikes. The joints didn't come loose until the third or fourth strike. Of course, mine are the standard Beta shafts, not a custom job like yours, so maybe the retaining ring grooves on yours are an unusually tight fit.

'Looks as if I'm going to have to grind the Beta CV up into pieces to get it off. I don't need the CVs as it turns out because they won't fit the Evo flanges/hubs. They've got short splines.

Probably too late now, since you've started grinding, but you could have machined the splines shorter on the inboard side of the Delta drive flanges. Not a popular option from the looks of things, but it should allow you to keep the Beta outer CV joints if you wanted to.

[Chris J]

Probably too late now, since you've started grinding, but you could have machined the splines shorter on the inboard side of the Delta drive flanges. Not a popular option from the looks of things, but it should allow you to keep the Beta outer CV joints if you wanted to.

I remembered you describing that idea before, Scott. It did cross my mind, but I decided to go for the longer spline option.

I've got the CVs off both shafts now. The problem was the 'C' clips were too open. The joints would never have come off, so I'm glad I stopped hammering when I did. With all this in mind, I'm sure the Beta joints were as old as the car's build period. So I doubt they're much of a loss?