Best Source For New Be3 Inner Cv Joint ?

[RonnieG 0]

Had a good tracknight on Friday although ended up having to nurse/rest my Mi16'd 205 through the last 30mins of the session with a serious amount of groaning coming from the inner nearside CV joint - Jacked it up briefly in the pit lane & there's significant 'play' in it.

 

Its running a standard Be3 gearbox with 1.6Gti Driveshafts - I looked in my GSF catalogue & see it only lists full driveshafts now. Where's the best place to source a new inner CV joint ??

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

I'm not sure the inner CV joint is available seperately TBH. I've certainly always had to buy a complete recon shaft in the past.

[RonnieG 0]

Thanks Tom - Although that wasn't the answer I was looking for as the inner CV joint only takes about 10 mins to swap once you have the driveshaft out.....

 

Just done a bit of phoning around which supports what you are saying - Outer CV joints no problem at local factors etc but no-one seems to touch inners.

 

Going rate excluding VAT seems to be £50 at GSF & £40 at my local TMS Factor for a nearside shaft on an exchange basis.

 

I know GSF often do various Brands of reconditioned stuff - Anyone recommend any brand over another for reconditioned driveshafts or are they all 'much of a muchness' ??

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

I'd only get some GKN one's from GSF, the other brands are cheap for a reason and often fail in no time at all

[RonnieG 0]

Got the driveshaft off the car last night and obviously a lot easier to examine it on the 'bench'.

 

The amount of 'play', maybe 5mm, on both the inner & outer CV joints probably feels the same now to be honest but interestingly the outer joint felt rougher to rotate than the inner when I gripped the driveshaft in the vice. I suspect the shaft was the original one as all the CV Boot gaiters had old but the original looking metal band type sealing ties. Out of interest I opened up the Outer CV joint gaiter and all the grease just poured out like oil - It was as if all the grease in the joint had broken down into a thick oil. I did think for a minute about just cleaning off the old oil and refilling the joint with fresh grease & trying that but given the play already in both joints that didn't feel a wise move for Mi16'd, Tran-x'd, track only car……

 

Taking Miles's comment above I have managed to get GSF to source me a GKN recon shaft which they are going to deliver to me tomorrow - Managed to negotiate £42 + Vat exchange for the shaft so happy enough with that.

 

The other thing I'm wondering now is if the exreme heat created in the heavy braking/steering on track, I'm running ATE Racing Blue Brake fluid & Racing Pads, is breaking down the CV joint grease over time and whether I should maybe check/change the grease in the outer CV joints every few months say ?

 

Anyone else experienced this or any thoughts on this one ???