CVs

[givegodachance]

Where do i get a new CV? I went to autozone and it is a dealer part. The one on it shows ROCK FORD on the boot. Is that stock?

[whiplash]

You can get them off of Amazon. They're made by EMPI and not a bad price. Part # are 80-1039 for the complete assembly or "long side" with the inner joint. 80-3619 for the 'short' assembly minus the inner joint which is what most people go with unless the existing green inner cup on the vehicle is too messed up to reuse. I just used two of the 80-3619s and they work great.

[Triathlete]

If you eant the best quality stick with oem but they are pricey...about $450 each iirc.
The empi's are the best of the aftermarket. Good quality but not as good as oem. The empi's can be found for under $80 each on-line (I paid $79 on amazon). The empi part is actually a trooper part#. If you search the site the part# has been opated by me and several others.

[givegodachance]

You can get them off of Amazon. They're made by EMPI and not a bad price. Part # are 80-1039 for the complete assembly or "long side" with the inner joint. 80-3619 for the 'short' assembly minus the inner joint which is what most people go with unless the existing green inner cup on the vehicle is too messed up to reuse. I just used two of the 80-3619s and they work great.


Are both part side the same? I will just get the complete shaft because i believe one side is completely shot and they are only 7 dollar difference

[MSHardeman]

I think that both sides are the same, but I'll let someone who has actually ordered them chime in.

I just wanted to caution you about the "green cup". Make sure that it is still intact and hasn't been scarred up due to lack of grease and road crud getting into the joint. The "green cup" is actually the outer race of the inner CV joint (confused yet?). It is the end of the axle that is in the front axle housing and it is painted green. If both of your inner CV boots are still intact then it is more than likely okay, but if the boots are split (and have been for a while) then the grease was probably flung out of the joint and road grime probably made it's way in there. If the green cup is all boogered up, then new half shafts won't do you any good. Sorry to be a Negative Nancy, because I do hope that everything is okay in there.

[givegodachance]

Thank you for the advice. One side the boot is pretty much gone. So I will be buying the long shaft.

[LittleBeast]

Ok, but realize that the required work to replace the inner green cup takes the job from a 2 to a 9 as far as difficulty and work/time involved. Replacing the CV is no problem it would take me about an hour to 2 per side now, but replacing the inner green cups is a complete weekend job, if you know what you are doing. If not it will take you quite a bit longer.

[LittleBeast]

To replace the inner green cups you must drop the front differential out of the whole VX. If not replacing the green cups it is a pretty easy, but messy job.

[givegodachance]

To replace the inner green cups you must drop the front differential out of the whole VX. If not replacing the green cups it is a pretty easy, but messy job.

oh, i was not aware it was so difficult. I guess i better do more reseach before doing so. I bet i will have to change the whole shaft because the grinding was horrible coming from this CV. Is there a video or directions to do so? And if i do change the whole shaft i guess i better put in the dif lowering kit right?

[MSHardeman]

Depending on what side you need, finding an axle can be a bit of a pain. The green cup on my driver side got all boogered up because I didn't realize that my inner CV boot had torn. I found a few aftermarket sources for the passenger side axle (which is the shorter of the two), but I couldn't find a driver side one. As far as I know our front axles are unique to the VX so a Trooper or Rodeo axle won't work, but you may want to call Merlin to verify that.

I ended up finding an axle out of a salvage yard VX and had it shipped to me as a spare. The shop that I took my VX to to work on the CV joint ended up taking the axle out of my VX and sent it off to a machine shop that welded up all of the scars that were in the inner race and then machined everything back to original specifications. It ended up being fairly inexpensive to have my existing green cup welded and machined and it's been in the VX now for a few years without any problems (and that's with two or three trips to Moab too).

One word of caution; when/if you drop your front axle, or work on the half shafts, or really just get near the front spindles at all, be VERY careful not to damage the ABS/speed sensors because they are ridiculously expensive (ask me how I know :mado:).

[pbkid]

Mark, our CV axles match the same part number as a 97 trooper per matt at indy 4x.

[Triathlete]

The only difference between the troop and vx shafts are the balls are slightly smaller on the troop cv's but they still work. I have another cv that is clicking (when my hubs are locked). I am going to check locally and see if anyone will rebuild my oem shafts...they are a better quality part and I saved them for that purpose.

[MSHardeman]

Mark, our CV axles match the same part number as a 97 trooper per matt at indy 4x.

Jack, are you talking about the little half shafts (for lack of a better term) or the actual axle that fits in the front axle housing? The half shafts, the part that you can see exposed that contains both the inner and outer CV joint are the same as the Trooper, and are the same length on the passenger and driver side so you can use them on either side.

The part with the green cup (the outer race of the inner CV joint), I think, is unique to the VX. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[pbkid]

Oh ya, i believe you are correct mark. Perhaps swede will chime in. I was just referring to the cv part of the axle.

[Ldub]

Is there a video or directions to do so?

Try the search function...

Or the knowlege base...

Or the how to section...

Or the downloads section...

It's all there, if you look...:yes:

[89Vette]

The only difference between the troop and vx shafts are the balls are slightly smaller on the troop cv's but they still work.

I have trouble trying to figure out how bearing "balls" could work if different in spherical size/diameter. Those grooves in the mating end would need to be cut on the same diameter or you'd have higher-than-normal play...which would seem likely to make noise, pop, and/or wear out faster.

:wtfo:

[Triathlete]

I have pics posted somewhere on here of my oem shafts and empi's side by side for comparison.

[Triathlete]

Here are a couple of places that might be worth contacting...
cv axle express (http://cvaxleexpress.com)...located in SLC Utah. They rebuild CVs...send them your old ones they rebuild and send back...lifetime warranty.
cv unlimited (http://cvunlimited.com)...located in Hemingway, SC. Don't say if they have a warranty. They remanufacture CV's and show the VX on their chart.
Think I may be contacting CV Express soon.

As I said earlier...the OEM shafts are the best available. If possible, it is a good idea to stick with them.

[VXorado]

You can get them off of Amazon. They're made by EMPI and not a bad price. Part # are 80-1039 for the complete assembly or "long side" with the inner joint. 80-3619 for the 'short' assembly minus the inner joint which is what most people go with unless the existing green inner cup on the vehicle is too messed up to reuse. I just used two of the 80-3619s and they work great.


Thank you for the advice. One side the boot is pretty much gone. So I will be buying the long shaft.

You don't want 80-1039, it will fit the passenger side but the inner cup is changed to a tripod CV vs. the OEM rzeppa style.


I had the "clever" idea to change out both inner CVs with EMPI tripod CV, thinking it would be stronger and available aftermarket. I found that they bind whenever the front suspension drops, causing noise & clunking. I ended up finding replacement inner cvs at the junkyard and switching back to OEM.

If the inner CV cup is worn & ruined, the only options are using a new/used OEM inner shaft or getting one rebuilt.


If you need to source either inner CV from a junkyard, they're called a "jack shaft" and as Mark said, the drivers side is longer. Any later year Trooper without SOTF with work. SOTF is a 4x4 engage system and eliminates the long drivers side jack shaft. You can easily see the SOTF on the axle.

Good luck. ;)

[VXorado]

The part with the green cup (the outer race of the inner CV joint), I think, is unique to the VX. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

I run a Trooper cup with a VX halfshaft and it seems to be the same or too close to notice.

[pbkid]

If you need to source either inner CV from a junkyard, they're called a "jack shaft"

Good luck. ;)

Anyone else think to themselves.... Giggity giggity?

[VXorado]

All Right....
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_loj0jwKZFQ1qg6g1r.gif

[chadzu]

Does any one know for sure if the vx uses the larger size cv joint? I have been looking for a set of the long half shafts for my '93 RS that I converted to the wider front end. I have never seen a long half shaft that used the larger joint. The joints on my vx, 95 troop, 96 troop all seem to be the smaller cv joint. The stock '93 joints are significantly bigger, even the center shaft is bigger with more splines.