This post came at an opportune time for me. Last week on the  Blue Ridge
Parkway I occasionally heard a clunk-clunk-clunk-clunk from what sounded
like the driver's side rear. It seemed like it occurred when driving
slowly, especially on a turn. That side was last greased at 44,000 miles. I
need to verify that the sound is from my CV joints.

Capt. Mike in an Oct 12, 2002 Westfalia.org post (Rear CV joints and axle |
Westfalia.org - A resource for the VW camper-van community since 1996
<https://www.westfalia.org/threads/rear-cv-joints-and-axle.500/>) says that
VW recommended a 30,000 mile repack but did not include it in the 30,000
mile service, primarily as a marketing ploy. He adds "even though 60K would
probably handle 90% of most Westies."

On Mon, Oct 18, 2021 at 11:06 PM Mike Miller <mwmiller6@att.net> wrote:

>  all I can hear is the Tom Lerher song...
>
>     On Monday, October 18, 2021, 7:42:49 PM PDT, Richard Koerner <
> rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
>  Yes, I totally hear you Bob.  At first, carrying around a half-axle seems
> like a dumb idea.  Adds maybe 20 lbs.  For the plywood box, including the
> half-axle.  But when in middle of nowhere, with that thumping-clicking
> sound on rear end, having a solid part ready to go is so wonderful. Yes, I
> have the axle with perfect boots, all greased up.  Also, the 12 point
> tool.   I am ready for that day.  Be Prepared...that is Boy Scout motto.
>
>
>
>   On Monday, October 18, 2021, 06:44:10 PM PDT, Mbob1950 <
> mbob1950@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  I carry a axel with greased CVs along with a bunch of other spares in two
> mortar cases
> mounted  under the floor at the slider and  refrigerator area. Only stuff
> that I don’t need to get to often.  It’s also makes a good safe area with
> some 12 point safety screws.
>
> Bob
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Oct 18, 2021, at 14:55, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > Yes, Chris knows his stuff. He was practically raised in a VW
> distribution center,  Riviera Motors in Portland OR, where his father
> worked as did he when a lad.  Riviera Motors distributed VWs and parts to
> dealers in the NW in the '60s & 70s (and beyond I think) and had the
> Riviera Camper built by nearby conversion company ASI when VW could not
> meet the demand for campers in the NW.  The OEM boots are higher quality
> than anything you can get now and can last a long time.  You might try to
> find good used ones on eBay or The Samba.  In the three vans I've owned
> I've never had to replace one.  That's well over 300k miles of use.  Maybe
> I've been lucky, but from what I've read the replacement boots all seem to
> have short lifetimes.
> >
> > Here is a good writeup on Riviera Motors:
> http://www.type2.com/library/camper/riviera.htm
> >
> > Stuart
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Eric Caron <ericcaron96@comcast.net>
> > Sent: Monday, October 18, 2021 12:29 PM
> > To: Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@gmail.com>
> > Cc: Vanagon List <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Subject: Re: When was the last time you re-packed your CV joints?
> >
> > Thanks Stuart,
> >
> > Bolts and grease ordered and I have the tool but got his as well as it
> looks much nicer.  I really like his products and recommendations.  But,
> I’m still hoping for a better CV boot than the Rockford.
> >
> > The site worked pretty well.
> > His shipping cost was very reasonable.
> >
> > Go Chris at T3!
> >
> > Eric Caron
> >
> >
> >> On Oct 18, 2021, at 12:20 PM, <stuartmacm@gmail.com> <
> stuartmacm@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> Chris at T3 Technique sells all that.  Definitely get the bolts from
> him with the proper tool he sells.
> >>
> >> Stuart
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of
> >> Eric Caron
> >> Sent: Monday, October 18, 2021 8:54 AM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: Re: When was the last time you re-packed your CV joints?
> >>
> >> Hi Jim,
> >> Grate question, and good timing for me,
> >>
> >> I’ve packed often as I do it every time a boot fails and I’m getting
> really good at boot changes.
> >>
> >> What is the preferred CV grease these days?  I want to keep some on
> hand for the next packing, and I’m fresh out.
> >>
> >> Also what is the best source for CV bolts and washers as I’d like to
> change mine for best quality I can get at the next change.
> >>
> >>
> >> Eric Caron
> >>
> >>
> >>>> On Oct 18, 2021, at 9:49 AM, Jim. Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I was going through some shelves in my garage this morning and came
> >>> across a container of the CV lube that Chris sells/sold at
> >>> T3techniques. It's called CV-2, a stinky muddy-looking heavy grease.
> >>> It got me wondering when was the last time I packed my axle joints
> >>> because I used this stuff. I looked it up in my log, the date was
> 2013, almost 60,000 miles ago.
> >>>
> >>> This seems like a long time compared to what I had previously been
> used to.
> >>> Thoughts and experiences?
> >>>
> >>> Now that I have stated this publicly, I realize that the CV joints
> >>> are not long for this world. But I had to ask.
> >>>
> >>> Jim
> >>
>
>
>