CV swapping

You've lost me. I would assume that if you take out a worn-out left half-shaft and put it on the right, it would still be worn out. Where am I wrong?

CVs on shafts usually wear out due to torn boots, allowing grit getting inside. Although there is more force in the drive direction than in the coast direction, meaning in theory axle shaft life would be longer if swapped at regular intervals, (although I doubt double), unless you do it yourself, the labour cost would far oupace any saving on a rebuilt shaft. In your case, if it's already noisy, it's too late to switch it over, the wear is already there. Ed B.

Agreed on all points:

1. You need to do this before there is a problem
2. If you're not doing yourself, you've wasted money on the 2nd installation.
3. If you're doing yourself, you've wasted your own time on the 2nd install.

99% of the wear is on the front side (how long do you spend in reverse?) of the joint. When you invert them, you basically present fresh, unworn faces (the worn sides now being on the backside). It took me a minute to visualize it as well.

Unfortunately, the fellow who presented this idea passed away earlier this year..

billy

Good points.

I admit I haven't been checking the boots personally, but the extended warrantee just ran out and we had been pretty careful about regular dealer maintenance. It's got 170,000 Km on it now and the clutch has just gone. I figured, while they're in there maybe swap the shafts, but maybe I'll just get them replaced.

Thanks for your input! billy

I understand that. The problem is that you now have a loose joint and that has to have it's own set of problems. If I had to guess, turning it around would probably make things worse because at least the two old surfaces have "worn in" so to speak.

I guess if you want to risk a day with the car up on jackstands getting your hands really dirty, it's a free country. As for me, I'd buy new ones.

BTW, I've driven 250k-300k miles on cars with CV joints and I've never had to change one. Replaced a couple boots though.

Basing this on experience with CV joints on 4WD SUV's that I have replaced, the wear is even on all surfaces of the joints.

Half the time you are accelerating, half the time you are decelerating, it wears everything pretty evenly.

Yes, except coasting does not present the same pressure on the joint as does the force of the motor on acceleration (unless you drive very gingerly) Ed B.

Good point. The CV's in my Xterra are worn very evenly at the Rzeppa joint and at the tripod joint, but it rarely sees the brakes in 4WD since it's in low range and engine braking is all I need with a 4:1 transfer case.