OEM 2002 Cadillac DeVille CV Joint

2002 Cadillac DeVille Parts Questions & Experts Answers

• Q: How to replace the outer CV Joint and seal on 2002 Cadillac DeVille?

  A: To replace the wheel drive shaft outer joint and seal, start by acquiring the tools you will need: snap ring pliers (J8059) drive axle seal clamp pliers (J35910) and drive axle swage ring clamp (J41048). Begin the dismantling by taking out the large boot retaining clamp from the CV Joint using a side cutter, and then dispose of it and afterwards do the same for the small boot retaining clamp from the halfshaft bar. Loosen the connection between outboard boot and CV Joint outer race and slide it out of alignment with the other parts of CV Joint on the bar. Cleans the grease from the CV Joint inner race and employ the snap ring pliers (J8059) to open the ears that the retaining ring in the race extends to before driving out the CV Joint assembly from the bar. Pull the boot off the bar and lightly strike on the CV Joint cage with a brass drift with a hammer in order to knock out the chrome alloy balls, doing this repeatedly until the six are out. Have the CV Joint both cages and inner race oriented at a 90-degree angle with respect to the outer race, and have the windows aligned with the lands of the outer race before removal. Rotate the inner race and swivel it in cage window, then clean the inner and outer race assemblies, CV Joint cage and balls with the cleaning solvent and removing old grease and contaminations before drying components before installing. Assembly also requires the new swage ring to be fitted on the small end of the joint boot and moved both onto the halfshaft bar with the boot being placed properly on the groove. Mount the drive axle swage ring clamp (J41048) into a vise, align the outboard end of the halfshaft assembly, and make sure there are no pinch points on the boot before installing and tightening the bolts. Assemble the boot and swage ring and then you should tighten each bolt of the drive axle swage ring clamp (J41048) 180 degrees at a time with the use of ratchet wrench. Gently spread some of the grease from the service kit on the grooves on the ball of the inner and outer races and push inner race into the cage making sure that it is directed towards the proper alignment with the outer race. Install the chrome balls, packing the CV Joint with grease, plus making sure the outboard boot is correctly shaped. Lastly, slide the large diameter of the outboard boot onto the CV Joint outer race, crimp the boot retaining clamp using the drive axle seal clamp plier (J35910), a breaker bar and a torque wrench and tighten the clamp to 176nm(130ft, lbs) and inspect the clamp gap dimension and adjust as needed.