This is how I disassemble a CV joint (sometimes known as a
brunfield)
Tools needed:
Safety glasses
Rubber mallet
Bench vice
Small screwdriver
Degreaser/Varsol cleaner (Brake cleaner)
Shop rags
WD-40
Time to do disassemble and reassemble both sides
about 1 hour
Put safety glasses on then clamp inner shaft in a
vice.
Do not clamp on seal surface and splines.
Using one hand and grasping the outer CV shaft then use a large
rubber mallet and tap on the CV.
It should pop right off.
If not tap harder. The resistance is from the "C" clip
on the other end. The objective is to uses enough force to collapse the "C" clip into the grove.
Here is the "C" clip along with the spacer.
Using a small screwdriver carefully pry & lift the
"C" clip off the shaft.
It is sometimes good to have a rag laying over the shaft at this
point to keep the "C" clip from flying across the garage.
Afterwards slide off the collar
and clean and inspect for cracks or imperfection on the splines. (Make sure you have safety glasses on)
Clamp the outer stub shaft in a vice.
Do not clamp on the splines and/or the seal surface.
A rag can be used to prevent marring of the shaft but it will not
clamp as well.
Mark the stub axle and inner piece with a marker for reference
and orientation during reassembly.
Using your finger rotate the inner to let one of the
ball bearings come upward.
Remove the ball bearing and set aside in a secure
location.
Rotate around with your finger and continue to the
next ball bearing.
There will be a point where the inside cage will
rotate around easily and the rest of the bearings can be removed.
Rotate the cage around and position the inside like
so.
Lift upward on the inside star piece and rotate and lift outwards.
When positioned correctly, it will come right out with
no effort and prying.
Rotate the cage around to this position and it to
should come out with no resistance.
After removing inspect the inside of the stub axle
carefully.
Run your fingers inside the ball friction area to feel for burs
or high spots.
The stub axle is flame hardened so discoloration around the edges
and inside is normal because of the hardening process.
Clean all parts and inspect for chipped bearings
and cracked cages. Pay attention not to wipe off the orientation
mark that was colored on previous.
Reassemble by reverse procedure.
Install the cage with no force, it should drop in if positioned correctly.
make sure it rotates freely inside.
spray lightly with WD-40 if needed.
The inside star will go in the opening and will drop
in with no force. you may have to wiggle the cage around to make it
seat in.
Making sure the orientation is correct and in the
proper position, install a couple of ball bearings in the seat.
The hardest part is the last ball bearing. It helps if
you lightly pry upward on the inside star . Pry only far enough to insert
the last ball in the cage.
(don't use any soft material like a brass punch to pry with
because the metal filings will go inside the clean CV)
After installing the collar & "C" clip
on the end of the axle shaft, reinsert the inner axle shaft by
pressing down hard and having the "C" clip collapse in the
grove.
It will pop into place because the clip will spring open when it
passes thru the end of the splines.
Afterwards you can cut a tube of Swivel grease and
fill around the CV then install in the front axle.
If just for storage & spare spray liberally with WD-40
