At 02:52 PM 8/29/2009, Troy wrote:
>How does one know if the ball cage is backward? I think I put the
>joint back together correctly, that is to say it moves as freely as
>the other ones, but after reading you can destroy the CV in short
>order if assembled incorrectly, I am tempted to take it back apart
>again. Is that little ball cage tapered or how do you know it's
>assembled correctly? Does it bind or not move if assembled backward?

Bentley, 42.9, last sentence: "Note: joint is correctly assembled
when ball hub can be moved in and out, by hand, over full range of
axial [in-and-out -- me] motion."  You've fulfilled that condition,
so you can stop worrying.

If you *did* have it assembled wrong it also wouldn't flex the way it
should, and I'm sure the ball cage, which is hard and brittle, would
explode the first time the axle forced the joint to flex.  You
wouldn't be able to assemble the half-shaft to the vehicle without
jacking up the wheel so the shaft was exactly straight, and something
would go POP as you let the wheel down, or it would just stay hanging up there.

I suspect you're feeling sorta naked and forlorn out there at the end
of a looong shipping route, but you really have done it
correctly.  If I'm wrong here I'll make it my business, sometime
before I die, to meet you in, say, Fairbanks, in the town square at
lunchtime while the legislature is in session and kiss you at any
point you care to indicate.  Only once, though -- fair's fair. :-)

Cheers,
D

  --
David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/
'89 Po' White Star "Scamp"