ok to swap left CV/drive shaft to the right?

[yarikoptic]

Hi

Recently I had fun changing drive shaft with a new GSP's one (made in China), so now I have a spare one (after I furnish it with new inner boot).

I have also a problem of a vibration (speed dependent, occur at 15-23 mph, acceleration/load dependent, present in FWD as well) which might be related to a slight whom-whom-whom sound which is present at higher (35-45 mph) speeds. It seems (after all my reading) that most probable cause of vibration is the other side drive shaft which visually looks ok - no torn boots, no clicks, but who knows how it behaves inside. So my idea is to replace right drive shaft with its brother from the left side which now sits in the closet. Although they are of the same model, I am wondering if there is some normal wear which accumulated during 90kmiles drive life of the left CV, such that change of rotation direction might have bad consequences....

Anyone had experience swapping side of the drive shaft (getting one from the junk yard) with/without any consecutive problem?

[86BRATMAN]

I don't think it would be a problem. But I've never done it either.

 

The worst that could happen is you've gotta get another new axle right.

[yarikoptic]

Although it is from Porche guy, but

The CV joints and, by extension, the driveshafts, are usually good for many thousands of miles when properly maintained, and the only maintenance these units require, aside from replacing torn boots, is the cleaning and re-packing described above. Additionally, some drivers have chosen to swap the driveshafts left-to-right to change the direction of wear on worn CV joints, thereby doubling the effective life of the joints. Numerous listmembers have done this without any reports of ill effects.

So now I am just to discover either regular Mobil 1 grease is ok for inner CV joint on Subi's half shafts (the same guy says "The basic requirements for a CV joint grease are that it be a high-tact grease (meaning it will stay where it is placed) and that is must have lots of poly-sulfide strands, which handle pressure well (essential in CV joints) and will stay put (see first requirement). Mobil 1 synthetic grease has light tact (due to a lack of a sufficient amount of poly-sulfide) and is not suitable for CVs", that is why I am wondering now)

[JPX]

You might very well be able to run the CVs until they die. But I bet that you'd be more likely to have a CV joint crap out because of a blown boot first before the joints have actually worn out.

 

Change the boots when you switch sides and game-on!