Issues with Beetle CV joint failure? Options

[stownsen914]

Hi all,

With 914 CV joints being NLA now, I recently tried out Beetle CV joints when my old ones wore out on my 914/6 race car. I understand they are made by EMPI. I am using the same 914 axles I've used for years. After about 30 minutes of track time, one of the Beetle joints failed (the inner one on the right side of the car). Basically the joint seems to have been plunging too far inward and the lateral force seems to have just forced the joint apart. No broken parts are immediately apparent. The joint seems to have just fallen apart!

I also noted that the inner races of the joints seem to be gouging the output flanges on the trans. This occurred on both sides fo the car. I had noticed some of this wear previously, but it seems to have accelerated significantly with the Beetle joints (especially considering only 30 minutes of use). See the pics below. It's hard to tell from the pics, but the wear spots are basically gouged into the flanges about a millimeter or so deep.

I never had any failures or unusual wear with the 914 joints I used for years, so I am at a loss what happened here. Anyone have a similar issue with Beetle joints? I'm wondering if I should be trying Lobro or other joints, or a different setup entirely ...

[malcolm2]

Racer Chris from Tangerine Racing has also developed a joint.

http://www.tangerineracing.com/transmission.htm

link to his Tranny page. Scroll down and you will see the joint or the whole axle for sale. I am sure you can call him or PMB and both will tell you the scoop.

I went with the Tangerine unit. Installed 2 joints on one side. Couple thousand miles so far everything is A-OK. Make sure to get a bunch of the paper or cork gaskets and new schoor washers.

While we are on the subject. I have been seeing some grease spatter from any and all joints. I have paper gaskets, is that something to live with? very small specs of grease have been flung on the under side of the trunk.