How to Change a CV Joint

Having trouble with a CV joint on your Peugeot? Before you dive into replacing it, it's important to understand what a CV joint and CV axle actually is.

CV, or constant-velocity, axles are car parts used on front-wheel drive cars, some all-wheel drive vehicles, and some older rear suspension vehicles. They are responsible for transferring the power of the engine to the two (or four) drive wheels from the transaxle.

 

Each CV axle is made up of two CV joint, one inside and one out. These joints are what allow the axle to transfer power at a consistent speed. They also allow for a constant transfer while accommodating for issues like the motion of the suspension, cornering, and various travel conditions. Without these joints, the axles can't perform the way they should, and every time you turned the car or hit a bump in the road, they would break.

Covering the joints are rubber boots known as CV boots. Because the joints have to be lubricated with a lot of grease, these boots help protect them by keeping the dirt and grime from the road away. The rubber these joints are made of is durable and able to withstand most travel conditions and weather. Most often, high-quality CV boots will last 100,000 miles or more. However, when they become damaged, they put your CV joints at risk for becoming damaged as well.

 

How CV Axles Fail

Actually, thanks to CV joints, CV axles don't fail very often. And CV joints don't typically fail unless the CV boots do. CV boots can become damaged or torn over time or do due to hazards on the road. When this happens, the grease covering the joints is released and dirt and grime are allows to infect the joint. Without grease for lubrication, and contamination of outside elements in play, the CV joint will eventually fail.

The first CV joint to fail will be the outer CV joint. This joint is not only more exposed to hazards on the road, but this joint is the one that does the most work.

Of course, it isn't always the fault of the CV boot that a joint fails. Sometimes these car parts simply succumb to age and regular wear. As they age, these car parts aren't as tight as they once were. Space is allowed to develop between the joint's moving parts, making it easier for the parts to clash together. After a while, this will cause the parts to break.

 

Symptoms of Bad CV Joints

Think you may have a bad CV joint? You may be experiencing some of these symptoms.

• Clicking Sound When Turning- At first, the clicking sound caused by a bad CV joint will be soft and barely noticeable. You'll occasionally hear it whenever you make a turn. Over time, though, the noise will become louder and louder until it sounds like a metal-on-metal screeching sound. If you think you've heard this sound, try listening for it. One of the best ways to do this is putting the car in reverse and turning in circles.

 

• Vibrations- Vibrations in the steering wheel when you're accelerating is a common sign of a CV joint problem. One of the best ways to tell if the CV joint is to blame is to wait until it occurs, take your foot off the accelerator, and see if the vibrations stop.

 

• Clunking Noises- Another symptom that may indicate a CV joint is going bad is a clunking sound that begins whenever you change gears. It will often follow a slight hesitation. Testing this is much easier by putting the car in reverse as well; this will ensure the noise is more pronounced and easier to detect.

 

Changing a CV Joint

If you've inspected the CV boots, CV joints, and CV axle and determined that the CV joint needs to be replaced, you have two choices: you can either take your Peugeot to the mechanic or change it yourself. Luckily, these Peugeot parts aren't difficult to change, so it is feasible to do it on your own. Here's what you need to do:

• Park the car on a level surface and use a jack to life up the front. Secure both sides of the vehicle with jack stands. This will keep you safer while you're working under the vehicle. Never rely on just the jack to hold up the car.

 

• Remove the front tyres from the car.

 

• Take a look at the CV boot to see if it's damaged. Remember, the boot may not cause CV joint failure as normal wear and tear could cause a fault with these Peugeot parts. The CV boot may not need to be replaced.

 

• Mark the axle so you know later how to put it back on the car, then take the axle assembly off the vehicle.

 

• Use a bench vice to hold the CV joint in place. This will make it easier to separate the shaft and the CV joint. Take off the boot clamps and slide the boot off of the joint.

 

• A rubber mallet can be used to separate the shaft and the CV joint.

 

• Wipe away the old grease on the axle shaft and fill the new CV joint with fresh grease.

 

• Slide the boot on the shaft, leaving it loose for a moment. Place the new CV joint onto the axle all the way.

 

• Use plenty of grease on the boot and then slide it over the new CV joint, securing it well.

 

• Use the mark from earlier to place the new CV joint and axle back on the car, then put the tyres back on, remembering to tighten the lug nuts.

 

• Remove the jack stands before lowering the Peugeot back to the ground with the jack.

 

Before you call it a day, take a drive in your car to make sure there are no longer any noises coming from the CV joint. Remember that testing in reverse makes it easier to hear any problems.