|
Why CV joints are better than U-Joints...
As Mike pointed out, CV stands for Constant Velocity. What they are talking about is the rotational velocity of the output shaft relative to the input one.
Lets assume a case where you have two drive shafts spinnig at a constant speed. Connected to one is a U-Joint and connected to the other is a CV-Joint. For both joints the output shafts are at a 150 degree angle from the drive shafts (30 degrees from straight). (This is what happens when you turn a corner) For the U-Joint, the speed of the output shaft will actually speed up and slow down depending on the position of the U-joint. The output from the CV joint will spin at a.... constant velocity.
I believe CV joints also allow a much larger wheel angle and thus a smaller turning radius.
It is my impression that if we didn't have CV-Joints we wouldn't have very many front wheel drive cars.
I hope someone else finds CV joints as interesting as I do,
Jim Meyer
p.s. I think Mike's view of how long CV-Joints last is a little pessimistic. CV-Joints will last a long time if the rubber boots do not have any holes in them for dirt to get in. This is why some people recommend checking your CV boots for holes or cracks at every oil change. If you catch a cracked boot early, you won't have to replace the joint, just the boot.
|