MAINTAIN YOUR DRIVETRAIN

DRIVETRAIN REPAIR SERVICES

CV joints (constant velocity joints) are flexible joints that evenly transfer power from a vehicle’s transaxle or differential to the CV axle half shafts and onto the wheels. There are several intricate parts that make a CV joint work, but the two most important parts – and the parts most likely to need service – are the cage and bearings that give the joint its fluid flexibility, and the CV boot that protects the bearings.

Constant velocity joints are special – and especially important to front-wheel and all-wheel vehicles – because of the flexibility their ball-bearing construction lends to the vehicle’s drive axles. Because CV joints are equipped with roller bearings, they are able to continuously transfer a constant velocity from the transaxle or differential, to the CV axle half shafts. CV joints even transfer power while absorbing the up and down motion that naturally happens with the suspension components and tires rolling on bumpy roads with debris, and the left and right motion of front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive steering.

Front-wheel drive vehicles have two CV axles in the front, rear-wheel drive vehicles with independent rear suspension have two CV axles in the rear, and all-wheel drive vehicles have four CV Axles connected to the drive wheels. The CV axles are always connected to a transaxle and/or a differential, giving power to the drive wheels.

Since functioning CV axles and CV joints ensure that power is continually transferred to the drive wheels, a corroded, locked up or otherwise malfunctioning CV joint will often result in lost power transfer and CV axle failure.