Different Grease for Inboard and Outboard CV Joints??

[pgilliam1]

I'm going to repack my CV joints (my car is a 1991 with 118K miles with minor ooziness at the CV's) so I went to Honda to buy the right type of grease. It's $7.00 a tube (1 tube per joint) and they specify different types for the inner and outer joints . Is this necessary or can someone, preferrably someone who knows, direct me to a type of grease that's OK to use on these joints? Experienced knowledge appreciated - Thanks!

 

[drew]

the manual states "use the grease that comes with the boot kit"

there is only one boot kit that is used for all axle joints
http://nsxpartsdb.com/parts/F/B21/

I've rebuilt NSX axles and the same kit is used on both sides.

Drew

 

[goldNSX]

Do you change the boots also? I would. The old grease needs to get out. The type of grease is the same IN and OUT. The only difference is: IN 120-130 gramms, OUT 170-180 gramms. As there's about 150 gramms in one tube I transferred 20 gramms from IN to OUT.
If you've never did the job you know afterwards what a mess is. I felt like a 2 year old child playing with hand-artist's colours. :tongue:

 

[pgilliam1]

I'm not changing my boots as they're in good condition. I'm just going to take the clamps off, slide the boots on the axle, clean the CV joints as good as possible, repack them and reclamp them. I'm wondering why Honda recommends 2 different types of grease? Your comments seem to support my questioning the need for different types. Is there a preferred type for the CV's?

 

[goldNSX]

I'm wondering why Honda recommends 2 different types of grease?

So do I. Where did you read about two different types?

Just a sidenote: Whatever you try without taking the axle apart it's not worth it. You'll end up in a complete mess with near to no gains at all. If you really want to change the grease you have to take them out. While there I'd change the boots. Just my 0.02.

 

[pgilliam1]

So do I. Where did you read about two different types?

Just a sidenote: Whatever you try without taking the axle apart it's not worth it. You'll end up in a complete mess with near to no gains at all. If you really want to change the grease you have to take them out. While there I'd change the boots. Just my 0.02.

I went to the Honda parts person (at the dealership) and he called the Acura dealership parts person and that was their concensus. He then sold me the different types and away I went.

I have to try something. My CV's are leaking slightly at the clamps so they obviously need grease and new clamps. The joints have no slack/slop in them, so I assume they don't need to be replaced. I know it's a messy job and I'll go through a ton of shop towels, but surely they will be better for it ..... ?

 

[goldNSX]

My CV's are leaking slightly at the clamps so they obviously need grease and new clamps.

No, they need new boots (and a little bit of grease). :wink: The clamps don't expand, the rubber of the boots shrinks. That's why they leak in conditions of high centrifugal forces.

 

[pgilliam1]

No, they need new boots (and a little bit of grease). :wink: The clamps don't expand, the rubber of the boots shrinks. That's why they leak in conditions of high centrifugal forces.

OK, not to beat a dead horse, but as the grease gets older and well used it also gets weaker and less viscous which enables it to seep out easier. And even if the CV boot rubber shrinks, won't newer/tighter clamps hold the grease in? As you can see, I don't want to take out the shafts because I hear it's a PITA. But if I'm just wasting my time - maybe I should just let them leak til they break :frown:.

 

[goldNSX]

OK, not to beat a dead horse, but as the grease gets older and well used it also gets weaker and less viscous which enables it to seep out easier. And even if the CV boot rubber shrinks, won't newer/tighter clamps hold the grease in? As you can see, I don't want to take out the shafts because I hear it's a PITA. But if I'm just wasting my time - maybe I should just let them leak til they break :frown:.

Don't get me wrong. I don't want to tell you what to do.

dead horse: Yes, I've read about the ice-cream-like break-down of the grease on this board thousand times and I even could convince myself that this happens when I revised my axles after 18/19 years. BUT it's not that serious. I've compared the viscosity of the old and the new grease. The new one IS thicker but not by very much. Moreover the new grease has some 'separated oil residue' (remind my English) which is even thinner than the old grease and would leak even earlier if there's a small leak.
Will say: The grease is only one (minor) cause. THE BOOTS are the problem. The metal clamps don't weak over time IMO, the rubber of the boot does. You could fix it temporarly with tighter clamps (try it). It may gives you some more time but maybe the leak remains.

Waiting till the boot breaks only postpones the problem to financially astronomical areas.

Good luck!

 

[pgilliam1]

Thanks for your input. I think I will try repacking and reclamping the CV that is leaking the worst (inboard passenger side) and see if atleast it will stop slinging grease on everything around it. I'll let you know if I did any good at all. Thanks Again and Happy Motoring!