Preventative CV replacement?

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 12:13 am

Has anyone replaced their CV's before they broke? I have 80K miles on my Jeep now with lots of hard core take it to the limit wheeling. There are no signs of the CV's needing replacement now, but I do fear that when they go, they are going to go big time on a trail somewhere (like what happened to Troy). The difference with me would be, I would have no clue what to do if/when it happens.

I figure that I can keep the old ones as spares and hope someone I am with know how to replace them if it all goes wrong. I would probably just got with OEM ones since they seemed to have held up this long.

How much is a job like this worth retail? I don't have a guy who works for Mountain Dew in UT unfortunately.

Opinions?

kskj · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 8:27 pm

Maybe I'm old fashioned but I like the old saying ( If it ain't broke don't fix it). I know I don't have as many hard off road miles as you do but mine are original at 145 thousand miles. They are fairly easy to replace though. And it sure wouldn't hurt to have the old ones for spares.

tommudd · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 11:05 pm

What happened to Troy could happen to ones with 25,000 or 125,000 get into the right spot at the right time with the right amount of right foot. Not saying he did anything wrong, just saying it could happen at any time newer ones or older ones. I could see maybe doing it if you are really that woried, but seems most run up into the 140,000 at least with not much problems.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 11:10 pm

tommudd wrote:

What happened to Troy could happen to ones with 25,000 or 125,000 get into the right spot at the right time with the right amount of right foot. Not saying he did anything wrong, just saying it could happen at any time newer ones or older ones. I could see maybe doing it if you are really that woried, but seems most run up into the 140,000 at least with not much problems.

Yep they can let go at any time.My tire was wedged against a rock and I just started applying the gas,might have made it to 800rpm's,and slung grease at RL,never did find the bearings.

There not hard to change but do require more then your average trail tools.

Guest · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 11:27 pm

JL Rockies wrote:

How much is a job like this worth retail? I don't have a guy who works for Mountain Dew in UT unfortunately.

$350-400 in ThunderbirdJunkie's area

durangotang · **Posted:** Mon May 18, 2009 11:47 pm

I would keep the one you have on there... you never know, you may have actually gotten a good part from Mopar on the first shot :shock:

No harm in having a spare though... at least gives you an out if you have to limp it to a shop and have the part on hand.

djui5 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am **Posts:** 536

Don't need to replace the CV unless the boot breaks and the grease comes out, then the bearing start to wear and the whole thing goes to hell. If your worried just have the boots replaced with new ones. Should be fairly cheap.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue May 19, 2009 1:06 am

djui5 wrote:

Don't need to replace the CV unless the boot breaks and the grease comes out, then the bearing start to wear and the whole thing goes to hell. If your worried just have the boots replaced with new ones. Should be fairly cheap.

My boot didn't rip until the CV joint itself self destructed.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue May 19, 2009 1:09 am

03CDKJs looked great , no rips or tears but the right side was gone! Can't always tell just from looking at them :wink:

Drassis · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2008 7:31 pm **Posts:** 182

So while we are on the topic, why dont some more experienced guys chime in hear and tell us how you would go about checking the CV axles to see if their going out. ie is it only the boot and grease leaking, is it more and more play in them etc

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Tue May 19, 2009 11:32 am

Drassis wrote:

So while we are on the topic, why dont some more experienced guys chime in hear and tell us how you would go about checking the CV axles to see if their going out. ie is it only the boot and grease leaking, is it more and more play in them etc

If the CV axles are going bad (BEFORE THE BOOT) you can feel/hear it when you are driving... and the noise does sound "rotational" or "in sync" (digger's favorite band) :shock:

with the wheel... The faster you drive the faster the noise....

On my KJ, the passenger side half shaft that goes into the front diff. and where the cv connects to the half shaft went bad before the ball bearing/cup

But as MUDD stated... They can look good.... AND still be bad...
My boots were fine... And no grease leaking! :roll:

CV'S TOAST!
@ 135,000 miles..... :wink:

Oh and Check your front driveshaft... The boot in the rear is probably torn.... :wink:

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Tue May 19, 2009 11:39 am

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Tue May 19, 2009 11:47 am

Bad Drive shaft.... :wink:

trailman · **Posted:** Tue May 19, 2009 1:55 pm

I replaced my cv's at about 80,000 miles while I was searching for a noise that turned out to be the front driveshaft. I paid 200 bucks at NAPA for some new ones. Now I have spare OEM ones. The boots are much more stout on the OEMs. The NAPAs have a very soft neoprene boot that any stick could go right through. Good thing there's only rocks where I live. I'd say if it aint broke...

Pablo · **Joined:** Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:06 pm **Posts:** 1201

The original poster has a crd, more $$$$ than a gasser-- different parts.

meduncan · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2009 4:26 pm

03CDKJ wrote:

Drassis wrote:

So while we are on the topic, why dont some more experienced guys chime in hear and tell us how you would go about checking the CV axles to see if their going out. ie is it only the boot and grease leaking, is it more and more play in them etc

If the CV axles are going bad (BEFORE THE BOOT) you can feel/hear it when you are driving... and the noise does sound "rotational" or "in sync" (digger's favorite band) :shock:

with the wheel... The faster you drive the faster the noise....

On my KJ, the passenger side half shaft that goes into the front diff. and where the cv connects to the half shaft went bad before the ball bearing/cup

But as MUDD stated... They can look good.... AND still be bad...
My boots were fine... And no grease leaking! :roll:

CV'S TOAST!
@ 135,000 miles..... :wink:

Oh and Check your front driveshaft... The boot in the rear is probably torn.... :wink:

Crap, I have that rotational ticking type of noise coming from my passenger side. It's pretty quiet and goes away after a few miles, but I can always count on the noise being there if the KJ sits for a little while.

So, looks like I might be picking up some CV's real soon. Any idea how long it is between when you hear the noise and when the CV falis? Will it fail under normal daily driving conditions? Just wondering if I need to run out tonight and pick up some CV's to be popped in this weekend. Also wondering if it's safe to drive to the Ohio meet and greet tomorrow.

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:08 pm

IMO You'll be fine.... I drove mine for a while.... Over 500 + miles.... The noise just gets louder and happens more frequently... If it's all ready going bad... Who cares if it gets worse.... :lol:

Your going to replace it anyway.... :wink:

I'm sure someone will say you can hurt other stuff by letting it go like that but I did not experience that... So... :roll:

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:10 pm

or here is another option....

http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/vie ... highlight=

03CDKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2009 5:12 pm

and don't forget U joints... Wheel Weights... Tire pressure... blah blah blah...

Preventative CV replacement?

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