How to strip apart an outer cv joint

[jvanzyl]

Hi all,
Can anyone point me to a guide or resource on how to strip apart an outer cv joint?

[jvanzyl]

Ok I'm finding info for other cars talking about hitting these things at specific angles which I'm not a fan of.

New idea- is it ok to just submerge the whole joint in brake cleaner until all the old grease is gone and then push in all the new grease?

[Gaz2405]

I just beat the shit out of mine with a big hammer to snap the circlip....

[Carolyn]

I would wash it out with petrol, which will shift the old grease really well.  Dry with an airline and re-pack.

[jvanzyl]

I would wash it out with petrol, which will shift the old grease really well.  Dry with an airline and re-pack.

This sounds imminently sensible... thank you! @Gaz2405 i appreciate the option should I have the sudden urge to let loose with the hammer!

[jvanzyl]

Wow! That was fast! I was expecting it to need ages of soaking before the grease shifted, but apparently not!

Going to leave them in there till lunch time and then give them a blast with the air as suggested- thanks @Carolyn !

[Joesson]

Having cleaned mine in situ, following similar advice from @Carolyn, I thought your need was to disassemble your CV for reasons other than simply cleaning.
I would be very shy about hitting hardened steel, particularly where bearings  were involved, with a hammer.

[jvanzyl]

Having cleaned mine in situ, following similar advice from @Carolyn, I thought your need was to disassemble your CV for reasons other than simply cleaning.
I would be very shy about hitting hardened steel, particularly where bearings  were involved, with a hammer.

Nope- just cleaning, regreasing and replacing the CV boots. 150k miles is probably time to do it, plus there was some brown residue in one of them so I think there was a leak somewhere as well.

[Joesson]

Nope- just cleaning, regreasing and replacing the CV boots. 150k miles is probably time to do it, plus there was some brown residue in one of them so I think there was a leak somewhere as well.

It was April 2017 when my PFL 2 was at 62,500 miles I noticed a weep/ leak from the driver's side inner CV boot.
The oil OE grease was an emulsified "oil" and mostly ran out of the joint, I helped it along with a small paintbrush, I don't recall, if I used a solvent as the shafts were in situ and the boots were in good condition and didn't want to damage them.
I did re grease all the joints and replaced the clips with aftermarket type. Fortunately my neighbour at that time had a heavy duty professional type of pliers to fit the clips, as the pliers supplied with the clips was made of Chinesium and broke at first use!
I recall @jinxedkitten, not heard from these long days past, as having a similar CV problem but no other reports of similar leakages.
Is it that the leaks go unnoticed, unreported or don't happen to others and JK and I got the short straw?

[jinxedkitten]

It was April 2017 when my PFL 2 was at 62,500 miles I noticed a weep/ leak from the driver's side inner CV boot.
The oil OE grease was an emulsified "oil" and mostly ran out of the joint, I helped it along with a small paintbrush, I don't recall, if I used a solvent as the shafts were in situ and the boots were in good condition and didn't want to damage them.
I did re grease all the joints and replaced the clips with aftermarket type. Fortunately my neighbour at that time had a heavy duty professional type of pliers to fit the clips, as the pliers supplied with the clips was made of Chinesium and broke at first use!
I recall @jinxedkitten, not heard from these long days past, as having a similar CV problem but no other reports of similar leakages.
Is it that the leaks go unnoticed, unreported or don't happen to others and JK and I got the short straw?

Damn you've got a good memory!
Mine was caused by a slight error by my local mechanic - they'd applied heat to remove bolts somewhere on the wheel assembly when redoing the handbrake and managed to slightly melt a bit of the CV boot at the same time, fixed it foc for me though.

[Joesson]

Damn you've got a good memory!
Mine was caused by a slight error by my local mechanic - they'd applied heat to remove bolts somewhere on the wheel assembly when redoing the handbrake and managed to slightly melt a bit of the CV boot at the same time, fixed it foc for me though.

Hello after a long time JK, hope all is well with you and your yellow 2. I did recall your problem but not the cause. Whether I'm the only owner whose CV grease turned into an emulsion or not I'm pleased that I noticed the leak and have grease back in the joints.

[Carolyn]

I reckon most of our members' cars will have dirty cream where their CV grease should be. 

Every one I've opened up was emulsified, unless it had been re-greased in the past few years.

[Joesson]

I reckon most of our members' cars will have dirty cream where their CV grease should be. 

Every one I've opened up was emulsified, unless it had been re-greased in the past few years.

Your saying my car's not special ! ?