I have just tried replacing an inner N/S CV joint on my mk4 combi without ABS and have run into a problem.

I bought the revised 3bearing tripod style joint to replace my knocking 5bearing item. Now, if I put the circlip on the shaft, the new bearing ramps up against it and the bearing can move up the shaft until it falls off inside the CV joint casing. If I slide the bearing up the shaft first, the bearing covers up the recess for the circlip so the bearing can again fall off the end of the shaft.

Assuming I was given the correct joint, whats gone wrong? The only image in a Haynes book of a 3bearing joint is drawn and shows the circlip on the very end of the driveshaft, not about an inch further down like on my shaft.

Do I need a different driveshaft? I'm so confused because I thought all mk3 or 4 shafts were identical throughout the 1.4 to 1.6 range?

I have even suggested I have knocked the new CV joint casing too far into the box but didnt think this was possible and its not leaking.

Any help or thought on the matter welcome, thanks all!

 

Any pictures?

 

sorry, no abilty to upload them. Have you ever fitted a 3bearing?

 

perhaps they are not interchangable, could you not buy a complete recon driveshaft or a second hand item?

 

Try drawing a sketch on paint or something, I'm having a hard time picturing your problem.

I've had the outer CV joints apart before, but never taken the bearings off the inner end which sit inside the box shaft part. Does the circlip not fit inside the bearing ring before going onto the shaft?