Thread: putting cv joint back in transmission

Ive replaced my cv joints in my grand prixs and my mini van over and over. I dont have to pay for them, though as they are covered under warranty. The axles in question are on the driver's side--the one with the female end on the axle and the male end on the transmission. The brand is was the Mastercraft new from Oreilly's. They usally last about a year before they start popping and vibrating. The boot comes loose a little on the side closest to the transmission and the grease seeps out--eventually ruining the cv joint.

Anyway, this last time I took the old one in they dont have that brand anymore and I warrantied it out and had to get the Precision name brand and pay a few more dollars.

I wonder if I'm not doing something correctly, though. When I snap the new one in place there is always a little wiggle room still. I can move the end that locks into the transmission pretty easily, maybe 1/8 or so wiggle. It does snap in place and does not leak transmission fluid, but that wiggle has me wondering. I dont want to wack it because I dont want to damage the new axle. The other end that goes into the wheel bearing is tight with no wiggle at all. The axle nut is torqued all the way.

Is this causing vibration, loosening the clamp on the inner bellow's boot of the axle? Or do these axles just suck that bad (which is maybe why they eliminated them from inventory)? If its because they aren't seating properly, what is the trick to get them to snap and lock tightly?

I searched the how to and only found how to remove them. I know how to do that and how to put it back but I'm wondering if Im missing the last little trick.

Thanks

If it goes past the compression ring you are doing it right, it will have some minimal movement when in all the way.

Most of the time it's with a poor axle shaft or you have bad axle geometry problems. Like on lowered cars or worn out mounts etc.

hey thanks Fivefinger. you reply to almost every thread i make. appreciate it.

both lower mounts are good. i replaced the motor mount myself and the trans mount was replaced when the previous owner had a trans rebuild. at least i hope......it looks good. i swapped the uppers last year for some used ones that were basically nothing and it was better than what the car had when i got it. but they might be bad again. i should probably check them but i always forget when im actually with the car. before i swapped those out you could just put your hand on the block and move it back and forth relatively easily. it was much better after i swapped them. maybe i should do the dogbone flip.

however.....sometimes it feels like the car just wants to fall apart. its a weird sensation but it kind of vibrates/shakes at times while driving. hard to describe and i dont have a way to duplicate it. it just does it from time to time, like something isnt tight in there. i've replaced nearly everything supension related/drive related except struts and coils. New axles, hubs, control arms, sway bar bushings.....ive even replaced the front brake calipers and all rotors and pads. the rear coils sag (i do have like 400 pounds in the trunk but it sags anyway) but the front does not appear too. they look too high if you ask me. but they are stock. for the life of me i can't figure out what it is. its done it for the past year, maybe even as long as i've had it.

when putting the car in reverse the axle/transmission makes a pop sound. the van does it too. and many cars i've driven. i dont know if this related in any way.

thanks guys. maybe i will next time i have to pay for them. these are warrantied every time. although it might be worth it to not have to change them out every year on two cars.