The joint is to be dismantled to renew the grease if it is heavily soiled, or to check the running surfaces of the balls for wear and damage.

Removing

• Mark the position of the ball hub relative to the cage and the housing before removing, use an electric pen or a softening stone -arrow-.
• Swivel ball hub and ball cage and take out balls one after the other.

• Turn cage until the two rectangular windows -arrow- lie on joint body.
• Take out cage with hub.

• Swivel one segment of the hub into one of the cage openings.
• Remove the hub from the cage.

Note

• The six balls for each joint belong to a tolerance group. Check stub axle, hub, cage and balls for small indentations (pitting) and traces of seizing.
• Too much circumferential backlash in the joint becomes noticeable during load change jolts; in such cases, the joint must be renewed.
• Smoothing and traces of wear of the balls are no reason to change the joint.

Installing

Carry out installation in the reverse sequence, noting the following:

• Press half of the total amount of grease from repair kit into the joint body.
• Fit cage with hub into joint body.

Note The cage must be placed in the correct position.

• Fit opposite balls one after another. In doing so, take care to re-establish the original position of the ball hub relative to the cage and the joint body.
• Fit new circlip in shaft.
• Distribute remaining grease in boot.