Hi Folks,

        Success! In two hours with the help of a friend I was able to get the CV boot changed.  I had to use a used VW boot but plan to do the job again with a new boot and synthetic grease.  At lease now I have the van for the next few months and can plan the install of the new boots.

        I will need to purchase a few tools to do this job on my own.
        In reality I am so worried about the joint coming apart I might  choose to plan to have a partner.  It was great to do this as a team.

        Interestingly, my friend has a recently damaged ankle and had to be very careful and was restricted in movements.  This ment he had to advise a lot more and thus I learned a lot more.  Stil. 2 hours for two men with serious impairments isn’t bad!

        As a past girlfriend would say, two men one good body, no brain!
  

        Thanks to everyone for all the information and tips.  I plan to use my  knowledge gained to keep this van healthy.

Now for a related question.

        The C shaped clip was a challenge to remove and install.  I thought the clip would have holes to match the special pliers.  Mine did not.  Can I purchase these somewhere and get them with the holes that would make it easier to put them off and on? I would not mind having spares as with grease covered hands they could be easy to drop when doing install or removal.  for me dropping a small part is a major setback.

Best.

Eric Caron 
85 GL Auto 
Ready for the rest of the summer.
 

> On Aug 16, 2016, at 11:55 AM, Ned Savoie <ned@HARBOURLIGHT.COM> wrote:
> 
> Good point. I don't know if they make one for IRS? I've used these on my
> 78, and just assumed someone made one to work with the IRS as well.
> 
> 
> Ned
> 
> --
> 
> Ned Savoie
> Creative Director
> 
> Harbour Light Strategic Marketing
> Savvy Software, Inc.
> 621A Islington Street
> Portsmouth, NH 03801
> 
> [Telephone] 603.427.2821
> [Facsimile] 603.427.0938
> [Mobile] 603.828.2400
> 
> On Tue, Aug 16, 2016 at 7:49 AM, Roy Nicholl <RNicholl@nbnet.nb.ca> wrote:
> 
>> Ned:
>> 
>> Those are what I have on my ’66 Westfalia which has a swing axle (torsion
>> bar).  They are not designed for IRS.
>> 
>>> On 16-Aug-2016, at 00:33, Ned Savoie <ned@HARBOURLIGHT.COM> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hey Eric,
>>> 
>>> It's late and I just did a quick search, but here's an example. Others
>> are
>>> probably far better to help find the best one (or one for the proper year
>>> and vehicle). It certainly is a great arrow to have in your repair
>>> quiver....
>>> 
>>> http://www.autohausaz.com/pn/111598021A
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Ned
>>> 
>>> --
>>> 
>>> Ned Savoie
>>> Creative Director
>>> 
>>> Harbour Light Strategic Marketing
>>> Savvy Software, Inc.
>>> 621A Islington Street
>>> Portsmouth, NH 03801
>>> 
>>> [Telephone] 603.427.2821
>>> [Facsimile] 603.427.0938
>>> [Mobile] 603.828.2400
>>> 
>>> On Mon, Aug 15, 2016 at 7:00 PM, Eric Caron <ecaron1@comcast.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Hi ned,
>>>> 
>>>>       I didn’t no there was such a beast.  Do you have a link?
>>>> 
>>>> Luckily thanks to this list and local support I should be on the road in
>>>> time for last summer trip.  And, I should have knowledge and tools to do
>>>> this myself in the future.
>>>> 
>>>> Still this could be a handy thing to have to keep me from getting stuck
>>>> traveling with a open boot in the future.
>>>> 
>>>> Eric Caron
>>>> 85 GL Auto Westfalia
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Aug 15, 2016, at 4:45 PM, Ned Savoie <ned@harbourlight.com> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> Hey Eric (and list),
>>>>> 
>>>>> What about using one of the aftermarket boots that you screw together.
>> I
>>>> know they have a bad reputation, but it might be the best thing to get
>> you
>>>> going on your trip, and then you can do the full procedure when you have
>>>> more time and are not under the gun.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Thoughts?
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Ned
>>>>> 
>>>>> --
>>>>> 
>>>>> Ned Savoie
>>>>> Creative Director
>>>>> 
>>>>> Harbour Light Strategic Marketing
>>>>> Savvy Software, Inc.
>>>>> 621A Islington Street
>>>>> Portsmouth, NH 03801
>>>>> 
>>>>> [Telephone] 603.427.2821
>>>>> [Facsimile] 603.427.0938
>>>>> [Mobile] 603.828.2400
>>>>> 
>>>>> On Mon, Aug 15, 2016 at 3:16 PM, Eric Caron <ecaron1@comcast.net
>>>> <mailto:ecaron1@comcast.net>> wrote:
>>>>> Hi folks,
>>>>> 
>>>>> One more related question on this repair
>>>>> 
>>>>> Can someone tell me the correct torque for the CV bolts when we install
>>>> the joint and boot back?
>>>>> 
>>>>> Also, anyone have a link to the tool used on these bolts, I’d like to
>>>> have one for future use.
>>>>> 
>>>>> appreciatively,
>>>>> 
>>>>> Eric Caron
>>>>> 85 GL Auto Westfalia
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>>> On Aug 14, 2016, at 9:39 PM, Eric Caron <ecaron1@comcast.net <mailto:
>>>> ecaron1@comcast.net>> wrote:
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Hi John and others,
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>      It looks like a Vanagon friend that has done this before has
>>>> time to help out on Tuesday afternoon and has a boot.  Still I plan to
>>>> leave this experience prepare to do this myself if it happens again.  I’
>>>> plan to get the better quality boots and have them ready to go.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> These tips are appreciated and I’ve read through them several times in
>>>> preporation.  I am hoping to look at a friends spare axle and CV joint
>>>> before handling mine.  That will be a big help.
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>      The info given here gives me confidence and partly makes up for
>>>> not  being able to see Bentley diagrams!
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Eric Caron
>>>>>> 85 GL auto Westvalia
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On Aug 14, 2016, at 3:05 PM, John Rodgers <jrodgers113@gmail.com
>>>> <mailto:jrodgers113@gmail.com>> wrote:
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Eric,
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> On the automatic the axles are of different lengths, but the
>>>> procedure for moving and replacing the boots and the CV's is the same.
>>>> Others have pretty much covered the steps, but I offer this an
>> alternative.
>>>> For getting the CV off of the axle.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Get a block of wood (a 2 x 6 x6) is good.
>>>>>>> Get a piece of solid round steel or brass twelve inches long and one
>>>> half to five eights inches in diameter.
>>>>>>> Remove the circlip holding the CV on the shaft.
>>>>>>> Hold the shaft vertical with one hand. The end of the shaft with the
>>>> CV to be removed should rest on the center of the wood.
>>>>>>> Place the steel or brass rod next to the axle.
>>>>>>> Now hold the the two together with one hand.
>>>>>>> Let the rod slide down until it touches the side inner race of the
>> CV.
>>>>>>> The rod should not be of a diameter to extend into the ball bearing
>>>> area.
>>>>>>> Tap the upper end of the rod downward with a hammer.
>>>>>>> Slide the tod slightly around the axle shaft and tap again.
>>>>>>> Continue this procedure until the CV begins to slide downward towards
>>>> the wood.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> At that point the CV should slide from the shaft splines. Be very
>>>> careful not to let the CV fall of or the center of the CV slide out
>> because
>>>> the bearing will also fall out. Then it becomes a nightmare to get back
>>>> together.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> To reassemble put boot on first, with the large open metal end to the
>>>> end of the axle shaft. The CV should just slide on. If not freely, a
>> slight
>>>> bump with a rubber mallet should do the trick. Then put on the circlip
>> to
>>>> hold
>>>>>>> the CV.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Hope this helps. Feel free to ask questions.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> John
>>>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>> 
>>