08-01-2014, 09:55 AM
During the course of replacing the rear wheel bearings on my '92 Cab, I noticed that the CV joint boots were looking a little ragged, so as long as I was in the general vicinity making repairs, I decided to freshen up the axles and clean and repack the Lobro joints as well. After disassembling the Lobro joints, and giving all the components a thorough cleaning in the parts washer, I inspected the assembly to see if there was any undue wear exhibited on any of the mating surfaces. Aside from some minor 'polished' spots on the ball cages, everything looked to be in good, serviceable condition.
On this note, I wanted to point out a critical issue when you re-assemble the Lobro joint components. The Lobro assembly can be put back together two ways. In either configuration, all the parts will go back together as expected, but if you do not get the cage assembly aligned properly within the Lobro outer disk, the joint will not function as intended.
As pointed out In this photograph
the correct alignment of the cage assembly with the Lobro outer disk is shown by the two red arrows. In this position, the joint flexs properly. If the joint is assembled with the prominences, indicated by the smaller of the two red arrows, aligned with the outer disk surface noted with the blue arrow, the joint goes back together, but the cage will not rotate freely around the axises it was intended to.
You'll be able to tell pretty easily if you've got all the components re-assembled correctly, simply by holding the outer disk in one hand, and checking to see that the cage assembly has a free range of motion with the other hand. When I re-packed the Lobro assembly, I used Swepco's '101' moly lubricant. This product resists water infiltration, and is designed to remain stable under extremes of temperature and pressure. It comes in a tube designed for insertion in a grease gun, but it comes with one end capped, so that you could scoop out the grease and apply it by hand, should you so desire.
While a messy undertaking, replacing the CV joint boots
and re-packing the Lobro joints should provide many miles of worry-free motoring for years to come. Now, on to the next project on my Cab!
On this note, I wanted to point out a critical issue when you re-assemble the Lobro joint components. The Lobro assembly can be put back together two ways. In either configuration, all the parts will go back together as expected, but if you do not get the cage assembly aligned properly within the Lobro outer disk, the joint will not function as intended.
As pointed out In this photograph
the correct alignment of the cage assembly with the Lobro outer disk is shown by the two red arrows. In this position, the joint flexs properly. If the joint is assembled with the prominences, indicated by the smaller of the two red arrows, aligned with the outer disk surface noted with the blue arrow, the joint goes back together, but the cage will not rotate freely around the axises it was intended to.
You'll be able to tell pretty easily if you've got all the components re-assembled correctly, simply by holding the outer disk in one hand, and checking to see that the cage assembly has a free range of motion with the other hand. When I re-packed the Lobro assembly, I used Swepco's '101' moly lubricant. This product resists water infiltration, and is designed to remain stable under extremes of temperature and pressure. It comes in a tube designed for insertion in a grease gun, but it comes with one end capped, so that you could scoop out the grease and apply it by hand, should you so desire.
While a messy undertaking, replacing the CV joint boots
and re-packing the Lobro joints should provide many miles of worry-free motoring for years to come. Now, on to the next project on my Cab!
