Should I regrease inner tripod CV joint after a clamp leak?

[inquirer]

The car is a 1.5L Mitsubishi Lancer. It has a tripod inner CV driveshaft joint.

Recently there was a leak of grease from the smaller clamp of its boot that had spread on the arm, the crossmember and on the tie rods boot.

According to the workshop manual the joint takes 100 - 120 grams of grease.

Should I bother to regrease it (I guess that's can be done without removing the axle since the boot isn't torn) or is it safe to ignore?

 

[kschachn]

Did you just put on a new clamp?

 

[inquirer]

Did you just put on a new clamp?

Yes. Since the boot was not torn I just replaced the clamp.

The boot has a few cracks on its surface though, so at some point it will need replacement, but for now the leak was from the clamp.

By the way, the boot has never been changed and it's 15 years old.

 

[shortyb]

You probably didn't lose much grease, it's not under any pressure, so just centrifugal force slung the grease out. Sounds like you just slapped on a new clamp and didn't pull the boot back to inspect the joint for sufficient grease. Maybe you should just go ahead and replace the boot and make sure it's got enough grease. Or maybe you feel lucky .

 

[tcp71]

Leave it or remove the clamp and inject some grease with a syring, then re-clamp it. Wouldn't be too much though.

 

[kschachn]

Yes. Since the boot was not torn I just replaced the clamp.

The boot has a few cracks on its surface though, so at some point it will need replacement, but for now the leak was from the clamp.

By the way, the boot has never been changed and it's 15 years old.

I'd just leave it.

Yeah, boots last a long time these days. The ones on my old ECHO were 25 years old before one of them sprung a small leak.

 

[inquirer]

You probably didn't lose much grease, it's not under any pressure, so just centrifugal force slung the grease out. Sounds like you just slapped on a new clamp and didn't pull the boot back to inspect the joint for sufficient grease. Maybe you should just go ahead and replace the boot and make sure it's got enough grease. Or maybe you feel lucky .

Lets say the amount is similar to this one on the lower arm, as an area covered with grease:

I don't know if that's much or if a small amount can spread wide.

Leave it or remove the clamp and inject some grease with a syring, then re-clamp it. Wouldn't be too much though.

If both clamps are removed can't the boot get slid on the driveshaft in order to clean the old grease. I don't know if it's a good idea to mix different greases.

 

[dishdude]

I vote to leave it alone as well.

 

[inquirer]

I vote to leave it alone as well.

Or maybe I will pull the boot to have a look and if a sufficient amount of grease is in place I will then leave it alone, till the boot needs replacement.

 

[kschachn]

Or maybe I will pull the boot to have a look and if a sufficient amount of grease is in place I will then leave it alone, till the boot needs replacement.

How do you know what is sufficient? It's done by weight and looks are deceiving when it's spread about.

You'll need another clamp too.

 

[Marcozi]

I'd open it up and add some grease.

 

[inquirer]

How do you know what is sufficient? It's done by weight and looks are deceiving when it's spread about.

You'll need another clamp too.

You're right, you don't know. But I think if everything is covered with grease and the joint does not look dry, the amount would be sufficient even if it is somewhat out of spec.

I'd open it up and add some grease.

I don't know if its a good idea to mix different types of grease. I guess it would be better to remove the old one and regrease the joint.

 

[Arc]

I always like to add a little grease when they start to age if the boot is still good. I made a needle fitting a while back for my grease gun. I took a grease fitting and soldered a needle valve like you would use for a basket ball on the end then sharpened it on the grinder. That little homemade fitting sure does come in handy.