disallow wrote:
>
> Hey all,
>
> So the ball joint popped on my 87 prelude, and
> took along with it the inner CV Boot. That was
> it though, as when it popped, we were barely
> moving.
>
> My question is, how important is it that the
> roller bearings inside the inner CV joint are
> oriented the correct way? See the attached URL
> to see what I mean.
>
> http://spaces.msn.com/members/terryl...&_c=photoalbum
>
> OR
>
> http://tinyurl.com/9hnup
>
> I put the driveshaft back together, and I am
> pretty sure I did it the right way. Unfortunately,
> I was in the middle of nowhere about an hour
> away from my computer, and the Hayne's manual I
> had along was not terribly specific.
>
> So, is this 'mission critical'? What is the reason for
> the orientation as per the manual, and why the hell
> do the rollers fit both ways?!?!
>
> Thanks
> t

Yes, the rollers fit both ways but work correctly when installed as per the
diagram. If you're not absolutely certain that you got the rollers correct,
then it would be worthwhile to slide the inner joint apart and verify. I
don't remember the exact consequences of putting them on backwards, the
joint could fail (out of all the driveshafts I've worked on I've never
actually put them on backwards). Since the rollers are asymmetric, when
they're installed backwards they will not sit as close to the inner hub as
when they are correctly installed. This difference in the spacing could be
critical for the correct operation of the joint since the rollers will not
sit corretly aligned in the outer race of the joint.

Eric