Hi All
I think I have found a very easy way to replace the inner CV (pot) joint gaiters - I nearly fainted it is so easy!
I was determined not to take the outer CV off as I had no new gaiter for that end.
Here goes ...This is all done with the drive shaft clamped horizontally in a bench vice...
- mark up your pot joint with tipex/gold marker (!) to aid realignment
- snip off the old gaiter and remove outer pot
- clean up the all parts of the joint with masses of kitchen roll
- pop out the ballbearings and clean
- align the grooves in the ball cage to the lands on the shaft and slide the ball cage towards the outer CV end of the shaft
- take the opportunity to clean every thing thoroughly
ok so nothing new so far...here's the good bit
- take your new gaiter and pull it over the grooved end of the shaft where the cage would have been.
- the rubber is on the shaft but the cage is now on the wrong side of the rubber - doh!
- no problems fold the rubber and squish it a bit and thread it through the inside of the cage, moving the cage over the top of the squished rubber!
- the cage is now back over the joint, the rubber is on the shaft, I didnt have a hernia pulling rubber over the cage, and I didnt remove the CV joint
I am literally stunned - this is genuinely so much easier than any other method I know!