Outer CV joints

citsncycles · Post by **citsncycles** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 4:53 pm

Something for those of you wanting to keep your BX's long term to think about:

I was in the local motor factors yesterday trying to order a BX outer CV joint (non ABS ones fit the GS). They rang 3 of their suppliers and the only one who had one wanted £49 exchange! The other 2 said that they listed them but rarely had any in stock as most of the old ones they had back in couldn't be rebuilt. I managed to get one from GSF through their Ebay shop for less than £14 - it;s a GKN unit which should hopefully last a while.

It seems that cheap supplies of these items are beginning to dry up, so it may be worth grabbing a couple while you can.

Philip Chidlow · Post by **Philip Chidlow** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 7:47 pm

I might suggest that those going to France this year stock up on a few non-RHD specific bits.

Post by **mat_fenwick** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 8:24 pm

Is it greedy to have 4 spare driveshafts?

Post by **Defender110** » Sat Feb 25, 2012 8:37 pm

mat_fenwick wrote:Is it greedy to have 4 spare driveshafts?

Only if your not willing to share

rmattila · Post by **rmattila** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:12 am

You can also buy the five-by-eight inch bearing balls separately. In most cases I've found that by changing the six balls when symptoms emerge, you can double the life of the other components of the joint.

http://www.rmattila.com/images/remontit ... vetonivel/

Post by **Defender110** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 9:40 am

rmattila wrote:You can also buy the five-by-eight inch bearing balls separately. In most cases I've found that by changing the six balls when symptoms emerge, you can double the life of the other components of the joint

So the ball bearings wear without weaing the case sockets?

Does changing just the balls stop the clicking/ knocking noise or just extend the life of a noisy joint

rmattila · Post by **rmattila** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 10:33 am

Defender110 wrote:
rmattila wrote:You can also buy the five-by-eight inch bearing balls separately. In most cases I've found that by changing the six balls when symptoms emerge, you can double the life of the other components of the joint
So the ball bearings wear without weaing the case sockets? Does changing just the balls stop the clicking/ knocking noise or just extend the life of a noisy joint

Wear in the sockets does not usually cause clicking, since the cause is more often cracks in the ball surfaces:

The sockets easily outlast a ball set or two before the actual wear and increased gaps become a problem. Usually it's just the failed surface of the balls that cause the sticking & clicking.

BX Meteor · Post by **BX Meteor** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 2:29 pm

/\ Wow that is an awesome bit of knowledge to pass on

(no sarcasm meant or implied)

tim · Post by **tim** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:29 pm

On page 2 there's a thread I put up on driveshafts which didn't really solve anything. Since then I've been told that driveshafts can and do fail quite regularly so it's not so unexpected on a high mileage wagon like the White One. I tried my local motor factor who couldn't find outer joints listed separately, only the entire driveshaft for about £65, which ain't bad considering the r.h. one has a bearing as well. No-one has come back on my comments on so-called 'remanufactured' ones either. I will have a look at GSF tomorrow; replacing the end would be a damn sight easier than replacing the shaft complete; further to that thread, I tried getting underneath a la Malcolm to get to a position where I could welly the shaft collar but no way... definite ramp job.

citsncycles · Post by **citsncycles** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:44 pm

I'm not sure if GSF sell the joints in their catalogue, but they're definitely selling them on Ebay! I fitted the one I bought to the GS driveshaft today - I'm just waiting for the new ball joints to arrive so that I can reassemble it all!

tim · Post by **tim** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 5:55 pm

I just got onto the GSF website for the first time (right old game, username, passwords etc...) and they offer absolutely nothing for front drive. All they have is a rear bearing kit. Odd, if they want to sell the stuff, why isn't it in their online shop?

Post by **Defender110** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:04 pm

BX Meteor wrote:/\ Wow that is an awesome bit of knowledge to pass on

Yes very interesting bit of knowledge that I would have doubted if you didn't have such obvious great knowledge of high mileage BX's. I think I will have to get a stock of ball bearings then.

Is 5 by 8" the size of the bearing to ask for then?

rmattila · Post by **rmattila** » Sun Feb 26, 2012 6:23 pm

You certainly can't make statistics based on my limited experience, but I've changed the balls on a few failed joints, and driven years (meaning >100 000 km) without problems after that. It has been quite surprising to see how bad the surface of the balls really can be even though the joint has been removed right after appearance of the symptoms.

In any case, by changing the balls to un-worn ones, you cut the wear gap by half (and even more), so the situation ought to improve even if there were no obvious faults in the balls. But in my experience, the balls tend to go bad in the way shown in the pic above.

5/8 " has been the size in the TRW joints I've used, but I can't say if that's a uniform standard.

tim · Post by **tim** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 5:57 pm

The Red One has developed a very intermittent 'clack'as well so this is worth knowing - but I'm puzzled. I have spent my life with imperial measurements rather than metric, but surely the Citroen, being a European car, would have metric measurement balls? I assume a bearing factor would be the only place likely to stock these.

tim · Post by **tim** » Tue Mar 06, 2012 6:38 pm

Just to add to that, I'd happily buy a bag of these as I have at least two driveshafts to do, and if replacing the balls will solve the clacking problem it's a brilliant 'quick fix' at minimal cost. So - apart from bearing factors, can anyone suggest a source for balls, any part numbers etc.... I imagine the ones used are bog-stock ones so readily available. I have a dismantled driveshaft in the workshop so will measure a ball up tomorrow to see if it has a metric size or if it's really good old British inches.