Mighty Shilling

I need to do a little more looking around and diagnosis, but I think my CV's are bad.

What are the symptoms of bad CV's? I have a clicking that's fairly loud, that I can feel through the shift lever whenever I'm at low speeds, accelerating, turning or braking. Highway speeds, this goes away.

is there a way that I can check to be sure before I fork up the cash for new CV's? Luis DePrat suggested using VW Vanagon CV's for half the price. Anyone else do this?

Also, What sort of damage can be done driving the car with bad CV's? It may be a couple weeks before I can afford to buy new CV's, and I'm just wondering if I can destroy the transmission or wheel bearings? I'm not about to damage my car more.

Thanks guys!

Chris_924s

You would definetly know. A solid RPM based "clack" is bad CV's, especially present at lower speeds and at take-off. Loud enough to echo off of nearby buildings.You would feel it in the throttle.
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FWIW, my CV's started clacking last January. went away for a few months, started again, and went away. It's been on and off since then, high humidity seems to trigger it. I really dont care due to the swap planned. CV's and half-shafts are side specific for Auto's and are more expensive than the manual counterparts.

Mighty Shilling

well, I don't feel it in the throttle yet, but I do in the shifter. It does kinda echo, car's been in the shop for a couple days now, so I'll check again when I get it back... *crosses fingers*

theedge

I hear that they will eventually just explode or something along those lines. Just what I read in a few threads around here...

That being said, I drove on a VERY bad one for a few weeks IIRC. Sounded like a woodpecker over a loud PA. You feel pretty damn stupid having a couple hot chicks checking you/your car out when youre stopped... Then you start moving and theres a massivly loud "clack... clack.. clack. clack Clack CLACK" as you speed up... Yea.

Serge944

Nothing will go wrong. However, keep in mind that you can "save it" by re greasing.

I had really bad cv joint clicking, which was gone after I took the joints apart and regreased. I have driven for 6 months already without any problems.

Matt H

Lets see they can:
Come apart rendering the vehicle inoperable
Lock up entirely snapping the axle (halfshaft)
Lock up and not snap the axle

If any of those things sound like fun then enjoy, if you dont like being stranded fix the problem, they arent very expensive.
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my87944s

Let me tell you from experience what a bad CV on a 1987 944s can do (my previous car, not my current car)... IT CAN EXPLODE sending ball bearings, everywhere and your axle shaft up through the floor of the car. I know because this happened to me! I had JUST started hearing some noise after a clutch install. i was sitting at a light (testing the clutch) and hit the gas pretty hard, the cv broke and sent the axle half up through the floor.
The next day i sold the car for parts... If you think they are bad, get them replaced. There is a place in Orange County (I can look it up for you) that rebuilds them to factory spec, or can beef them up for reasonable prices.

Chris_924s

Okay..ok. I'll do my CV's! Sheesh. I'm payin attention!@ Even tho new half shafts and CV's will go in with the LSD manual.

Porsche-O-Phile

Bingo. In theory this could cause loss of vehicle control with results as good or as bad as your imagination can come up with. . .

Mighty Shilling

Righto. that means, Geoff is going to order some new CV's shortly. Until then I'm gonna log some highway miles on the car, drive gently (no take-offs from stop lights) and get those CV's in ASAP!

do you need an alignment after doing CV's perchance? Also, anyone have those VW Vanagon part numbers for a cross-reference?

my87-944s, can you look that place up for me? I'm shopping around for the best price. So far we have Paragon at $80.00 or so

my87944s

Its Michael Angelo Moterwerks in Irvine, CA.
heres a link to their info...
http://www.touringcarclub.com/detail...ls_sites.shtml

Mighty Shilling

thanks! I'll check them out

Danno

"using VW Vanagon CV's for half the price. Anyone else do this?

Only on the '86 & earlier cars. Midway through '87, they had a new CV design with different splines.

I wouldn't wait, if any of those CV fails, you can rish severe suspension, exhaust, tranny even fue-tank damage...

Chris_924s

Yikes!!

Luis de Prat

Check out this thread: Using VW Vanagon CVs and this thread: CV Joint Discussion

Mind you, I put these on a 1983 NA and they work fine for that application. I would not put them on your father's 951.

EDIT: I notice your car is a 1987. If you have the late axles, these VW parts may not work for you.