CV Joint removal

[SnowDrift]

I believe I'm doing my last boot on my '95 - pretty sure it's the only one I've not replaced on this truck. I used to do all four at once, with other trucks, but realized that wasn't really necessary.

When taking the joint out, this thing was giving me real fits. I took off the caliper, lower shock bolt, ABS sensor wire, upper ball joint and the steering arm to move the spindle around and it was still VERY tight to get it out. I am working on the driver side and ended up, basically, turning the spindle as if making a right turn, having my daughter push down on the spindle casting and I kinked the joint to get it past the seal in the hub. It's out, now, but wow, it was difficult!

I've done boots on multiple trucks, K1500, 2500 and 3500 and don't ever recall it being this tough. Did I forget a step? Maybe some let the sway bar link loose, but I don't remember ever doing it this way.

 

[3500GMC]

Unbolt hub from knuckle (take hub off) ?

 

[WarWagon]

I have always had to remove the swaybar end links, and cash the lifetime warranty in on them, when removing half shafts. IMO the half shaft "seals" in the spindle help keep the water out of the bearings and are worth replacing.

 

[SnowDrift]

I went to put the boot on tonight and realized it only came with one bag of grease. In the past, I recall there being two bags. Has something changed in recent years (past 10 years or so) that says it's only necessary for one bag? I don't know the ounces, but I know I've got about half the amount of grease we always used to have. The inner is a pretty large cavity and I don't feel really comfortable with what seems to be an inadequate amount of grease.

 

[Will L.]

It should be one bag of Reese per boot

 

[SnowDrift]

ok. thank you

 

[SnowDrift]

Well, it went back together with very little effort, even without disassembling any further parts. Must have been due to humidity or something. I think the parts may have been swollen the other day when I was taking things apart.

 

[Big T]

I have always had to remove the swaybar end links, and cash the lifetime warranty in on them, when removing half shafts. IMO the half shaft "seals" in the spindle help keep the water out of the bearings and are worth replacing.

This ^^^^.

 

[Big T]

I went to put the boot on tonight and realized it only came with one bag of grease. In the past, I recall there being two bags. Has something changed in recent years (past 10 years or so) that says it's only necessary for one bag? I don't know the ounces, but I know I've got about half the amount of grease we always used to have. The inner is a pretty large cavity and I don't feel really comfortable with what seems to be an inadequate amount of grease.

Could you do a write up (preferably with pics) on how to replace the boots? I've always just replaced the whole shafts.