Auto drive shaft and cv joint parts

Drive shaft and cv joint: key insights into component performance, mounting, diagnostics, and durability

Driveshafts and СV joints are elements which are designed to transfer torque from the gearbox to the steered wheels attached to the drive. They ensure the most effective transfer of power regardless of the angle of rotation of the wheels.

Design of drive shafts and СV joints

Driveshafts are metal rods fitted with constant velocity (CV) joints at both ends. The latter are connected to the shaft with the help of splines and are fixed with a snap ring. The inner CV joint has a spline which goes into the gearbox. The spline at the end of the outer one is fitted with a wheel hub. CV boots are used in order to protect the joints from environmental impacts and to prevent lubricant leakage. These are mounted onto the outer race of the CV joint and the shaft with special clamps.

CV joints can be ball- or tripod-type. The former consist of an outer socket and inner ball race, cage, and balls. The mating surfaces of sockets and races have special grooves along which the balls move. These grooves enable races and sockets to move in different planes.

The design of the latter has a housing made in the form of a tulip. A tripod mounted onto the output shaft of the gearbox spins freely inside of it. The beams of the tripod are fitted with hemispherical rollers which are able to spin due to the needle roller bearings.

Maintenance tips

• Examine the joint boots and make sure the clamps are properly tightened during each vehicle inspection. Damaged components have to be replaced at once.
• You should buy a set of elastic boots and a special cone to install them. Their mounting doesn’t require disassembling the drive shaft, which is extremely convenient, if, for example, the boot was torn while driving and you don’t have time or the necessary tools to replace it.
• When driving on roads in poor condition, try to slow down before driving over rough patches. Impact loads have a devastating effect on the joint parts.
• If you disassemble the unit when replacing an axle boot, clean its elements and grease them thoroughly. Use only suitable lubricant, otherwise the mating surfaces can wear out prematurely.
• Do not start driving with your wheels turned all the way. You shouldn’t leave your car parked like this either.

Malfunction symptoms

When CV joints become defective, your car starts shaking, especially while accelerating. If the balls, races, sockets, or bearings of the tripod have deteriorated, a crunching sound can be heard coming from the place where the part is located, especially while manoeuvring or driving on poor-quality roads. A torn axle boot can be detected during visual inspection. Sometimes lubricant starts leaking out from where the defect is located, causing dirt to stick to it. If the clamps are loose, the axle boot starts moving around its axis.

Malfunction causes

The premature wear and tear of the inner components of a CV joint can be caused by high loads due to driving on poor roads, rough starting and braking, and inadequate vehicle tuning (when the car’s power is increased but transmission and suspension components aren’t reinforced). CV boots become defective on account of long-term exposure to dirt, moisture, and mechanical damage. Penetration of moisture inside the joint is especially dangerous if the grease contains molybdenum disulfide. Under highly humid conditions, it quickly turns into an abrasive, causing mating surfaces to wear out very quickly. As a consequence of a blunt force impact, the drive shaft itself can become bent.

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