OK. I realize that I have screwed up...but I am hoping to get off on the cheap. My 84 I use as a daily driver was a junk yard rescue. I have been driving it for over a year with a broken outer CV boot. Two weeks ago, I had a LOUD clicking from the rear. I took the car home and parked it until I get the boot repaired. I am hoping that the shaft is not shot....since it only cost $15 bucks for a new boot, I am willing to try and repack it and see if it is ok...if not, I will get a new shaft. Well...when I removed the inner CV and began to clean it, I managed to turn it so the bearings fell out. I looked in the shop manual and of course it has a statement not to mix up the bearings as they are paired with the CV. I went ahead a cleaned everything up and put it back together. How important is it the have the bearings matched? Is there anyway to figure out how they were paired? I dont want to spend any more money on a new inner CV. What are my options and has anyone else done this and just put it back together without any issues?

Thanks

As long as it is put back together correctly, it should be ok. I don't believe it will matter that much if the bearings are in a different race. Make sure you have it assembled the right way, I once put one back together the wrong way and had to re-do it (I didn't install it, just discovered my mistake after all the bearings were put in). Also, when you re-install the drive shaft, swap ends.

Rich

If it fell out that easily, it's probably shot. It should not come apart with the shaft attached to the inner race, IIRC -- I think you have to twist the inner race 90° to get it out -- normally. The clicking confirms this. Grease may quiet it down for a while, but if there's a lot of vibration it may overstress the transaxle output shaft bearing and cause it to fail prematurely.

I put the ball bearings back in randomly and the CV joints (all four) have been fine. However, they were OK before I took them apart. Done only because of torn boots.

Also, if you put them back together incorrectly, which I did, it will be immediately apparent since the jount willl not swivel/turn freely.