CV Joints

[tom4bren]

Thanks for the info.

I don't think the sound is a heat shield but I'll check (since it's the easiest)

I'll also grease the CV (since I can get to it through the torn boots) while I order the replacements & see if it quiets down temporarily. If it does then maybe I can hold off on replacing the CVs right away.

[Ascinder]

I know Triathlete also used some duct tape to hold in what little grease was left when his CVs went out, you may want t o try that as a temporary fix. Also don't forget that if you replace CVs it's a good idea to replace the differential seals. They are around $12 apiece I think from St. Charles Isuzu, which you can find in the links section. Depending on your miles you may want to replace the inner and outer bearings as well. Another thing to look out for is when you have to remove the upper and lower ball joints, be careful as sometimes they are really in there and can be torn when being removed. I tore out an upper and a lower doing mine. They have to be replaced as complete units and are far cheaper to come by aftermarket. Hope this helps, and good luck!

[tom4bren]

I saw Triathalete's temporary duct tape fix and thought I would go one better. There is rubber plumbing tape that adheres to itself but not what it is wrapped around. That should hold the grease in until I get the new boots (& indicate if the CV's are shot).

I'll let you know.

P.S. I went to the independent4x website and didn't see ANY CV boots listed. I'll call them later though. The most common brand I've found on line is EMPI. Are they any good?

[Ascinder]

Wow, cool idea on the tape! If you go under "axle products" at independent4x, then go to the Isuzu 10 bolt IFS and rear, you will find the Mecatech CV boots about a third of the way down the page on the left side. I don't know about the brand you mentioned, but I did some research when I got mine and I personally couldn't find anything better than the mecatech boots. They run $20 each and come with pretty much all you need except for the tool which allows you to install them over and around the large green housings on the CV boots. They sell a kit with this in it, and if you go to the mecatech website, they have instructions. Personally, if it was me, I would go down to Harbor freight, or some other bargainmart type tool place and buy a long oil funnel for like $1.00 and put some cuts in it because it looks like that is all they are doing at mecatech. When I did my lift, I pulled the CVs completely out and dismantled them. Taking them all the way down like that is very time consuming, and to get all the old grease out, I recommend at least a can or two of brake cleaner. As an added benefit of taking them all the way apart, you don't even need that tool to install your new CV boots. Personally, I would just get some new CVs if it were me. Yeah the will run $160 for a set of two compared to $80(2 per CV shaft @ 2 shafts), but it is way easier and far less time consuming.

[tom4bren]

Schlepping some grease into the CVs did quiet them down - even before wrapping the old boots in tape while awaiting the new ones. You're right though, why go through all that trouble and not replace them. I'm sold.

[tom4bren]

I ordered the boots. Now I can't find the CV joints themselves. Can the joints be replaced without replacing the axels? If so, where? I haven't contacted an Isuzu dealer yet because I thought it would cost more going that route.

[Ascinder]

Well, Bimati was led to believe that there was an auto parts store that sold each shaft assembly for $75 a pop, plus a core charge, but he said they charged his card, and never delivered and were unreachable. I think this is because at the time, they didn't have a core charge listed at all, but who knows. I would definitely get ahold of someone by phone first of all, and hammer things out in advance. You can always reverse the charges if they end up being deadbeats. Also, there aren't any individual parts you can get ahold of. New units from the dealer(at discount pricing) are $700 a pop. Here's the link to try out the cheaper ones:
http://www.alldiscountautoparts.com/...e=arc&s=1&my=1

Good luck!!