Acceptable wear on inner CV joint?

[CNY_Dave]

Have an inner cleaned of grease, axle in the vice.

 

How much rotational and lateral play is acceptable?

 

About 190k miles on it, I can rotate it a small but eye-detectable amount, same laterally.

 

Inner surface just shows polishing at the wear points, dull on the trailing side, shiny at the driving surface (let me figure out it was a right).

 

Should I use it as a left side joint to maximize further use?

 

Also, does anyone pull the inner rollers off to clean and pack in new grease? Looks like a small snap ring, not sure how I'd get it off. No place to insert a pick, etc.

 

Dave

[CNY_Dave]

I probably need to do this job next weekend- bump.

[forester2002s]

From my experience, there should be NO rotational or radial play in a CV joint.

 

If you can feel play, then I would say that the axle needs to be replaced.

[CNY_Dave]

That's my thinking, but wasn't sure.

 

The outers are very tight, seems fewer wear surfaces on the inners takes a larger toll.

 

Dave

[smiffy6four]

I would drive it until any vibration/noise becomes unacceptable to you. Unless you have deep pockets and want to spend

[CNY_Dave]

This is a potential donor to replace my obviously bad one. If I can't get 100k out of it I'd rather get a MWE or cardone replacement.

 

I do not have the scratch for a subaru replacement.

 

Dave