What You Need to Know About CV Joints

There are so many different elements of a vehicle that can be hard to keep track of. However, the key to maintaining your car for a long time is knowing which parts go where and what is required to keep them working efficiently.

Constant-velocity or CV joints are one of those small but critical parts of your car that you may not know much about. However, despite its size, it will certainly be noticed when it isn’t working correctly. To help expand your vehicle knowledge, read on to learn everything you need to know about CV joints.

1. What are CV joints?

CV joints facilitate the efficient transfer of torque from a car motor to the wheel bearings – no matter what the angle or speed is. All front-wheel-drive automobiles possess CV joints on either end of the driveshafts. The driveshafts are connected to the transmission by the inner CV joints, while the outer CV joints join the drive shafts to the wheels.

These joints are essential as they can endure theup and down movement that occurs during driving, as well as theleft and right motion encountered during steering.

2. Why do I need top-quality CV joints?

As CV joints play such an essential role in the operation of your car, you must have high-quality ones to ensure the safety of your vehicle.

In addition to increase safety and driving performance, top-quality CV joints make your vehicle more energy-efficient due to the reduced fuel expenditure and CO2 emissions you will be producing. Furthermore, the higher the quality of the CV joints, the lower the noise and vibration levels you will be able to hear while operating your vehicle.

There are several common symptoms of a bad CV joint. These include grease along the edges of your tires, clicking or popping sounds when you turn the wheel, bouncy driving, vibrations in the car when you accelerate, and a knocking sound. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is essential that you take your vehicle to a technical expert so that they can diagnose the problem appropriately.

top-quality CV joints

 

3. How do I increase the service life of my CV joints?

CV joints require a special grease that is then sealed tight inside with the plastic boot. This is all held in place with two clamps. Usually, a CV joint can last a long time, assuming that the shielding CV joint boot is not broken.

The most common issues related to CV joints occur when the protective boot fractures or gets impaired. Unfortunately, if this happens, the lubricant is released and replaced by moisture and dirt. When this happens, the CV joint wears faster and quickly fails because of the lack of lubrication and corrosion.

To increase the service life of your CV joints, it is recommended that you only utilize OEM-tested and approved accessories or components. Additionally, ensure that there is adequate lubrication of the boot, as this is the most sensitive part of the driveshaft.

Always follow the proper installation of the driveshaft to restrict wheel detachment, as well as inboard and outboard joint damage. CV joints and boots should be inspected during your regular vehicle maintenance visits. So, make sure that your mechanic is checking for any cracks, tears, or other damage.

4. What types of CV joint kits are for sale?

There is a range of CV joint kits available on the market. For example, bearing suppliers in Dubai usually offer:

  • Driveshaft Kit (DK) which includes accessories or components (bolts, nuts, clips, etc.) and is ready to fit an assembled driveshaft.
  • Outboard Joint Kit (OJK) which includes a boot for the wheel side as well as accessories or components (grease, circlip, bands, bolts, nuts, clips, etc.) and a securing ring for the other side. This is a pre-assembled outboard outer race comprising an inner race, ASB ring, duster cover, and cage and balls.
  • Outboard Boot Kit (OBK) which includes a boot for the wheel side and the required accessories (including clips, circlips, grease, nuts, and washers).
  • Inboard Boot Kit (IBK) which includes a boot for the gearbox side and the required accessories (such as clips, springs, caps, and retaining nuts and bolts).

Purchasing one of these kits makes for fast and easy repair because all the necessary components or accessories are included. Furthermore, you can also purchase the required product add-ons such as universal multi-purpose grease, heavy-duty high load grease, general-purpose automotive and industrial bearing grease, and bellow clamps from a reputable bearing supplier.

Have you recently had to replace your CV joints? If so, do you have any tips or insights to share with other readers? Let us know in the comments below!