7 replies to this topic

[mk3cortina]

i cant seem to get the driveshaft to go back into the cage in the outer UJ, its the circlip thats stopping it but it just wont go in, ive tried to squeeze the clip but it doesnt really move. it did just come out so i would have thought it should just go back in, but no. any tips?

[Hekmat]

I had the same issue and managed to get on as follow (not sure if it is the correct way, but it worked).

1. Assemble the entire shaft and CV joint and wheel hub together.
2. Put an old castle nut at the end do not tighten too much just enough to cover the threads.
3. Line up the shaft (make sure it is as straight as possible) and hit it with a mallet.

It helps if you have someone to hold the wheel hub in position while you hit it.

[mininuts]

Make sure that the circlip has not been damaged in a way that it won't sit freely in its groove. It should compress fully into its groove.

If it's been twisted or burred in any way on removal it will make re-assembly difficult.

Had this problem myself a couple of times and found it was a damaged circlip on both occasions.

[mk3cortina]

well what happened was i was removing the upper arm and once it was off the hub obviously moves freely, and the driveshaft just came out. the circlip doesnt compress at all really, but i dont se how it could be damaged as nothing has happened to it.

[mininuts]

well what happened was i was removing the upper arm and once it was off the hub obviously moves freely, and the driveshaft just came out. the circlip doesnt compress at all really, but i dont se how it could be damaged as nothing has happened to it.

Was the circlip moving freely in its groove or was is compressed and stuck in its groove when the driveshaft came off? Usually you have to 'tap' the shaft off to compress the circlip in to its groove then once removed the circlip will open out again. Remove the circlip off the shaft and check the groove for any burrs or debris that may be causing the circlip to jam in its groove.

The problem I had, on both occasions, was the circlip had a slight twist in it which stopped it compressing fully into its groove. The groove width will be only a few thou wider than the circlip diameter so any slight damage will give problems.

New circlips sorted the problem for me.

[mk3cortina]

is there supposed to be two circlips on the end of the driveshaft? just that there is a groove around the driveshafts splined end thats not far from the end, but theres no circlip in this groove, and then theres another groove which has a thick circlip in it with a square profile to the circlip which stops the driveshaft from being pushed further into the bearing cage.

what puzzles me is, if there is supposed to be a small circlip thats missing, which im assuming there is as when ive looked for the part its a thin round profile cirlip, then there was not one in there in the first place. so it must have dissappeared before i bought the car. is it ok to run the car without this circlip? i mean, i have been anyway so i dont see what it could harm, its only there for when your servicing parts to stop the shaft dropping out when its loose and out the hub right?

[mininuts]

is there supposed to be two circlips on the end of the driveshaft? just that there is a groove around the driveshafts splined end thats not far from the end, but theres no circlip in this groove, and then theres another groove which has a thick circlip in it with a square profile to the circlip which stops the driveshaft from being pushed further into the bearing cage.

what puzzles me is, if there is supposed to be a small circlip thats missing, which im assuming there is as when ive looked for the part its a thin round profile cirlip, then there was not one in there in the first place. so it must have dissappeared before i bought the car. is it ok to run the car without this circlip? i mean, i have been anyway so i dont see what it could harm, its only there for when your servicing parts to stop the shaft dropping out when its loose and out the hub right?

Yes mate, there is supposed to be two circlips. Like you say, the thicker, square profiled one acts as a stop and the round proflied one is the one that holds the shaft in the cv.

Not sure if it's ok to run your mini without the circlip. Only reason I say that is because I had an issue a while back with a new cv joint I bought. I fitted it and all seemed well until I went for a test run and whilst on full lock the shaft popped out of the cv > Turned out that the groove for the small circlip had be machined too far down the shaft, (only by a few thou), thus not allowing the circlip to open up, giving the same result as no circlip at all.

Going off that experience, I'd say you've been lucky. If it is ok to use your mini, (which you obviously have), I'm sure someone on here will tell you it's ok.

If the shaft won't go in the cv without the circlip there, I'd take a careful look at both sets of splines for any damage or burrs, no matter how small.

[mk3cortina]

the shaft goes in the cv fine, with the one falling off like it did i figured it would be a good time to do the pot joint boots, and when i had the other driveshaft assembly off it did indeed have another circlip as i tapped the cv off it to check. now that i know its missing ill just make sure i dont turn the wheel too much. will have to order a circlip now, god knows i dont want to have to tear into it all again to fit it, needs must i guess.