Statistics/Poll Thread: Front driveshaft CV joint failures

[grenhulk]

Year: 2024
Model: Station Wagon Trialmaster
Suspension: Stock. FWIW, equipped with factory winch (I understand that this modifies the stock front springs)
Type of failure: torn boot at transfer case
Mileage at Failure: 7,500mi. Found by dealer. Requested they check common failure points while the truck was in for the software update. They must have known to look exactly there.
Warranty: Covered, but they only replaced the boot, not driveshaft
Driving: Purchased used at 7,300mi, unsure. Appears not to have been offroaded (at least not primarily).

 

[Clark Kent]

Year: 2024
Model: Station Wagon Trialmaster
Suspension: Stock. FWIW, equipped with factory winch (I understand that this modifies the stock front springs)
Type of failure: torn boot at transfer case
Mileage at Failure: 7,500mi. Found by dealer. Requested they check common failure points while the truck was in for the software update. They must have known to look exactly there.
Warranty: Covered, but they only replaced the boot, not driveshaft
Driving: Purchased used at 7,300mi, unsure. Appears not to have been offroaded (at least not primarily).

'Warranty: Covered, but they only replaced the boot, not driveshaft'

Well that's an interesting development. The driveshaft is catalogued under a single PN. The only parts breakdown is the slipjoint boot (-043970) and the screws.
I wonder if IA have purchased and shipped out a bunch of boots for doing hotfixes if the CV is still serviceable, or did this dealer get creative?

 

[Rok_Dr]

A couple of comments from chatting with IA at the Perth 4WD show today. I'm just relaying the comments made and won't be getting into a debate.

• How the lift kit is installed will have an impact on the CV joint boots. Correct method is to use spring compressors rather than dropping the axle to install the springs. Axle dropping will likely damage the boots and in particular the rear one at the transfer case.
• The limit of travel of standard front shocks protects the CV joints. Fitting longer travel shocks will result in the boot being damaged over time.
• Off the record comment was that properly installed with std shocks lifts up to a 50mm should be OK.

Cheers
Steve

 

[Logsplitter]

A couple of comments from chatting with IA at the Perth 4WD show today. I'm just relaying the comments made and won't be getting into a debate.

• How the lift kit is installed will have an impact on the CV joint boots. Correct method is to use spring compressors rather than dropping the axle to install the springs. Axle dropping will likely damage the boots and in particular the rear one at the transfer case.
• The limit of travel of standard front shocks protects the CV joints. Fitting longer travel shocks will result in the boot being damaged over time.
• Off the record comment was that properly installed with std shocks lifts up to a 50mm should be OK.

Cheers
Steve

That’s got me thinking . So maybe the CV joint failures on stock vehicles as mine is, could be attributed to not using the correct procedures when working on the vehicle. Mine had been in the Ineos workshop two weeks before it failed. I’ll never know but if that is the case then I can feel reassured that this shouldn’t happen again if correct workshop procedures are followed.

 

[Jeremy996]

A couple of comments from chatting with IA at the Perth 4WD show today. I'm just relaying the comments made and won't be getting into a debate.

• How the lift kit is installed will have an impact on the CV joint boots. Correct method is to use spring compressors rather than dropping the axle to install the springs. Axle dropping will likely damage the boots and in particular the rear one at the transfer case.
• The limit of travel of standard front shocks protects the CV joints. Fitting longer travel shocks will result in the boot being damaged over time.
• Off the record comment was that properly installed with std shocks lifts up to a 50mm should be OK.

Cheers
Steve

As axle dropping is probably quicker than using spring compressors, I would anticipate that many 'upgrades' will be damaging to the boots. The truth or otherwise could be evidenced if we do not see too many repeat failures, assuming the correct replacement procedure is followed, (which is not a given). The second bullet point gives a little insight into the interconnection between running gear choices - it isn't always a zero-sum game and the law of unintended consequences applies.

All geographys have their own issues, but I have never seen the need for a lift in the UK and I have seen too many vehicles being ruined by big lifts for the look and not much else. All vehicles are a series of choices and compromises, so it is easy to "break the envelope" - a lifted truck has a higher CoG, so roll will be exaggerated and on-road handling compromised.

 

[Dokatd]

A couple of comments from chatting with IA at the Perth 4WD show today. I'm just relaying the comments made and won't be getting into a debate.

• How the lift kit is installed will have an impact on the CV joint boots. Correct method is to use spring compressors rather than dropping the axle to install the springs. Axle dropping will likely damage the boots and in particular the rear one at the transfer case.
• The limit of travel of standard front shocks protects the CV joints. Fitting longer travel shocks will result in the boot being damaged over time.
• Off the record comment was that properly installed with std shocks lifts up to a 50mm should be OK.

Cheers
Steve

Point 1&2 have long since been addressed. Most installers have realized that you must remove one side of the drive shaft to install springs. Functionally no different than using a spring compressor when it comes to the shaft. And I don't know any shocks that are longer than stock aside from the kings. A simple limiting strap could solve that issue with kings though.

The 3rd point, well sure, but that's still 2". Most people except us early adopters of Eibach have not exceeded 2" and still have multiple failures.

So my conclusion is that the person you spoke with has very limited knowledge of what's really going on.