CV "click" and duct tape "trick" ( one mans struggle with cv joints )
 

Hello All :)

My CV ( constant velocity ) joints started making that dreadid clicking sound agin. So I knew it was time to jack up the rear and get out the grease.

I took off what was left of the old duct tape strips, that I had put around the CV seals about 3000 miles ago. Scooped out some of the old grease, and started anew.

This time I got my finger into the joint in such a way that I could force grease far down into the CV. I cannot think of a way to show or tell you how, but I figured I would mention it. I got about a half pound of grease into each joint.

But the trick came later when I was putting the duct tape back on what is left of my seals.

I figured out how to get the tape onto the seals in one long continuous strip.

I realized if I started the tape going around the joint, and then turned the tire with my hand, that the axle would spin and slowly unspool the tape off the roll, and onto the joint, just where I wanted it.

Instead of several short strips of tape like the last time, I was left with one long continuous strip of duct tape that covered the entire seal.

I was so pleased with my handiwork, that I decided to take some pictures and post them to the bord with this message. ( images below )

This bit of engineering is not for the ASC certified mechanic, but I wanted to get a few more miles out of my CV's before replacement. ( they are quite expensive :eek: ) It has worked pretty well so far and I hope the creative ductaping makes this go around last even longer.

Long live Red Green, the duct tape king !

Thank you all.
RichC

http://bugzda.jabberwock.us/duct_tape_cv/IMG_5935.jpg

http://bugzda.jabberwock.us/duct_tape_cv/IMG_5934.jpg ... http://bugzda.jabberwock.us/duct_tape_cv/IMG_5933.jpg

http://bugzda.jabberwock.us/duct_tape_cv/IMG_5932.jpg

What you should have done was to start up the engine, have someone put it in Drive and let the axles takeup the duct tape.................:silly:

The Halfshafts are not that expensive. I have a couple available at $50 apiece (300SD).

You oughta send your Duct tape idea to NASCAR seems to me they could use duct tape to hold together their cars, wait a minute, they're already doing that.

I hope you wound the tape is the direction of travel so that when the axle is spinning it won't catch on something and get unraveled real quick.

Also finally, the CV joints don't have grease in them, they have gear oil.

Marty

www.benzbonz.biz

Why not get a couple of hose clamps and tighten them on either end of the tape job? That would keep it intact a little longer.

WHAT? :eek:
The Rear differential has Gear Oil but last I checked, the CV Joints are filled with Grease

I think that's a fine duct tape job. What grease did you use?

We had a Toyota with a similar problem that I patched in a similar way, duct tape, zip tied the ends, and coated the whole mess with that plastic stuff you dip tool handles into...lasted 2 more years.

Later, I found a set of boots with a side seam that slipped over the joint, again zip tied the boot in place, those worked great, were cheap, and faster than the tape. Maybe you could find a set of boots like those.

That plastic stuff is great. With a cracking boot, a grease needle, and a small paint brush you could "refurbish" almost any joint..cv, ball,...

You have made Red Green proud!
 

"What could possibly go wrong?" --Red Green

"You don't have to think fast if you move slow." --Red Green

My fear in doing that would be that somebody pulls up behind me and sees that I did that! :eek:

Brian is correct, these MB CV joints use a special oil NOT grease. Grease will get thrown to the outside leaving the joint unlubed.

Is it a special thick black oil? :P

Rich- rigging of any kind involving the steering or wheels makes me nervous---just had my front end redone by Peter the best mechanic in vienna, va. Nice photos by the way.

Cheep WalMart grease
 

Hello all

I used a cheep WalMart wheel bering grease. I think it was named Super Tech or something like that.

Thank You
RichC

Melting grease
 

Hello all

Will the wheel bering grease get hot enough in the cv joint to melt a little ?
Turning it into a semi liquid, that would ooze back into the joint ?


PS: I like the: Hose clamp, Wire tie, and Putting it in drive ideas from above, maybe I will try those next time. :jester:

Thank You
RichC

Having done the duct tape thing in non-ideal circumstances (parking lot of Kragen Auto in Winnemucca, Nevada), I would not recommend the "put it in Drive" method. It would be too easy for you to get caught in the tape and end up with your arm wrapped around the axle. I did the "turn the wheel by hand" trick and it worked well.

If you use hose clamps or even cable ties, be sure that you use two at each location with the "heads" at opposite sides of the axle, so the weight is balanced. Out of balance axles can cause damage to expensive bearings.

I understand that the original M-B lubricant is an oil but the auto parts stores sell a CV lubricant that is a high-temp grease. You squeeze it into the joint and seal it up. It gradually melts the stickum on the duct tape and you have to do it again. The tool handle coating sounds like a good idea but I prefer to replace the axles with rebuilt ones that have new boots and be done with it for another twenty years. I just replaced mine for a total cost of a little over $300 and you can do it for less if you don't worry about the quality of the rebuilt axles.

Jeremy