CV axle trail fix (1 Viewer)

[hoch]

I don’t always carry a spare XC axle. So I am looking for trail fix options if I happen to bust an axle.

Unfortunately, one can’t simply remove the axle and drive home. Diff must be plugged and axle must be in place to keep the hub bearings in place.

I was thinking I could DIY a kit from a busted axle. Simply cut off the two ends so it’ll plug the diff and hold the hub together. Of course, leaving enough in tact so you can easily get it out once home.

But does anyone make a trail fix kit like this?

 

[jdevtac]

Why not just buy a cheap Napa CV axle or something. Or a used CV off eBay.

 

[Mr Chuck Norris]

I mean, if the axle is broken anyway...

Just unbolt the lower ball joint from the control arm (2x19mm bolts), cut the CV boot clamps off, cut the boots off, pull the hub outward and the inner tripod joint will come out of the cup. Then take a hammer against the tripod joint to pop the shaft out of the outer CV star, twist the star out, and remove the balls (or remove whatever broken CV pieces are left because most likely the outer joint is what broke). Clean up the now empty CV cups, put the truck back together, and drive home with the center diff locked.

Save the pieces and slap it back together to use as a core charge. Then buy a new complete CV axle.

If you shattered the outer CV cup you probably couldn't do this, but it's usually the star inside the joint that fails.

 

[hoch]

I mean, if the axle is broken anyway...

Just unbolt the lower ball joint from the control arm (2x19mm bolts), cut the CV boot clamps off, cut the boots off, pull the hub outward and the inner tripod joint will come out of the cup. Then take a hammer against the tripod joint to pop the shaft out of the outer CV star, twist the star out, and remove the balls (or remove whatever broken CV pieces are left because most likely the outer joint is what broke). Clean up the now empty CV cups, put the truck back together, and drive home with the center diff locked.

Save the pieces and slap it back together to use as a core charge. Then buy a new complete CV axle.

If you shattered the outer CV cup you probably couldn't do this, but it's usually the star inside the joint that fails.

Thanks. Yeah, that’s an option. I was hoping to avoid tearing into the axle and not get too messy. I’ll just have to pack some extra gloves!

 

[bobhica]

I broke my cv axle on my 2005 gx470 on a trip to Mexico. It broke on the wheel side and was hanging from the front diff. I cut the boot removed the cv axle from the cup installed in the diff. It was greasy, but the cv cup has all the seals in it, and I lost no oil from my diff. Drove to a Autozone in La PAz, BCS, bought a cv, and installed it. The one tricky part was getting the gx's transmission to engage. It knew the cv was missing, so wouldn't engage the transmission in 2wd. I locked the center diff, and everything worked fine. Just notes on my experience with a broken cv.

 

[Jstawgn]

It knew the cv was missing, so wouldn't engage the transmission in 2wd. I locked the center diff, and everything worked fine. Just notes on my experience with a broken cv.

Any full time system will not transfer power when one of the axle/CV was broken / removed. The transfer case got differential, when they are unlocked it would only transfer power to the side with least restrictions. The torsen center diff would not lock without at least a little resistance.