914-6 CV joint. Same as 914-4? Options

[914chris]

I was wondering if there are any differences between the 914-6 and 914-4 CV joints. Also if the axles are different?
I think I may have a bad CV. I am taking them apart and cleaning and re-gresing them, but with the 914-4 CV out of production I am wondering if the 914-6 people are in the same boat. Thank you for the info.

[brp914]

I have a joint I took off my factory 6 years ago. It has 25 splines. I was told that as of 15 years ago or so, the replacement -6 axle came with -4 joints. The -4 joint may have diff # of splines. Performance Products lists the -4 joint as well as the -4 axle as nla. They still list the -6 complete axle with price ($486). Dunno whats up with that.

[70Sixter]

I had a helluva time finding -6 CV joints several years ago when I replaced mine. Not sure what the difference was, but they were not the same.

[LvSteveH]

They have a different spline count, and a six axle with four CV's is simply four axle assembly plain and simple. They interchange, and I don't think one is any stronger than the other. Why the factory had two different setups is anyone's guess. Maybe the six setup was sourced from Porsche and the four was sourced from VW?

[Cap'n Krusty]

914/6 CV joints have been effectively NLA for more than 20 years. Every once in a while one shows up out of somebody's stash, but not often. The spline count is different than the 914/4 units. Early 911 (pre 1969) CV joints are also NLA. Getting to be a bit of a problem. The Cap'n

[smontanaro]

So if mine are fine (I think they are), what sort of inspection/lube schedule do you suggest to keep them that way for as long as possible?

Skip

[GeorgeRud]

I just checked my old 914 factory parts book, and they have different part numbers for the -4 and -6 complete axle assemblies, but only one part number for the actual CV joint. I would take that to infer that they are the same. I'll have to measure my axles as I have both and see if there is any difference in diameter or other noticeable difference between the two. I know they do interchange with no problem.

[LvSteveH]

I would take that to infer that they are the same.

You can infer until the cows come home, still won't make it so. The entire assembly is interchangeable, but a four CV will not work with a six axle, and visa versa. Aside from the different spline count, the last set I compared had a different ball size between the four and six, but I doubt one was any better than the other.

For all practical purposes, the best bet today for a six owner in need of CV's is to round up a set of 914-4 axles and go with the CV's that Eric and Mueller are offering. The price is very reasonable, and they will last an extremely long time in a daily driver. For a high hp setup like a big six, suby, or V8 it would be worth going to a stronger CV setup if using the 901 trans. For everyone else it's a perfect solution.

[Rusty]

I have a 914/6 CV joint... new in the box. Unfortunately, it's packed with all my crap. When I get it unpacked (December? January?), I'll snap some pictures comparing a /4 and a /6 CV... if anyone cares by then. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[GeorgeRud]

I know that the assembled axle can be exchanged from a 4 to a 6, did not know about the different spline numbers. The parts book doesn't have listings for the axle without the CVs, so you're right if the spline count is different. I'm only suprised that it doesn't have a part number for a 914-6 CV by itself. Obviously, not meant to be replaced by itself as far as the factory was concerned.

Makes me wonder what other cars may have used the same 914-6 CV. I'm sure Porsche didn't have them made up for the rather small run of 914-6s, but would use something from Lobros catalog.

Just wondering, never try to second guess those Germans!

[smontanaro]

Okay, this raises an obvious (to me, anyway) question. I have a /6. If I crawl underneath it can I tell if it has /4 or /6 axle assemblies without dismantling everything? Count exposed bits of splines or something?

Regarding whether or not /6 CVs were standard Lobro parts or not, if they were something standard, you'd a thunk someone would have figured out the appropriate cross reference by now. Maybe they were in the Lobro catalog but weren't sourced by any of their customers...

Skip

[John]

Luckily for me, the 914-6 axle shafts (and hence CV joints) have the same number and size splines as 911 cv-joints. I simply turned the axle shaft shoulders down a bit and 911 CV joints fit like a glove.

New CV joints (and an available supply). I converted the outer stub axle to 911 parts to accept the larger 911 CV joints, and I went with coarse splined transmission output flanges to convert to the 911 CV joints. All factory parts. Just the 914/6 axle shafts were modified slightly.

To answer the original question, NO the 914/6 and the 914/4 CV Joints are not the same, but the complete axle assembly does directly swap.

[smontanaro]

Luckily for me, the 914-6 axle shafts (and hence CV joints) have the same number and size splines as 911 cv-joints. I simply turned the axle shaft shoulders down a bit and 911 CV joints fit like a glove.

Got pix or a sketch of what you did? With this change what model year 911 CV joints fit?

Thx,

Skip

[blabla914]

Ok guys slight thread hijack here.

I'm prepping to go to 944 cv's. A few people have done this. I've got some coarse spline 915 flangs, some 944 stubs, and an extra set of 914 axles. Is it easier, or even possible to use early 911 stubs instead of the 944 stubs? This would be easy for me since I have 911 hubs now. The 944 stubs either need to be machined or I need to make a spacer. If I can just use a factory 911 stub, I'd prefer to do that.

Will the 944 CV hook up to the 911 stub?

Thanks,

kelly

[maxwelj]

I don't know what I just sent to Mike Mueller for redrilling the dowel pin, but they have a porsche part number, AND they fit the original -6 axle without turning down the shoulder. They just don't have the dowel holes. (The holes are there, but they are the same size as the others, and not big enough for the rolled pin). Maybe Mike can look at the part number on the box and see what they originally fit.

[davep]

I'd have to do some measuring, however the /6 axle has a slightly bigger shaft diameter than the /4 axle.

[John]

Sorry for the hijack, but

Got pix or a sketch of what you did? With this change what model year 911 CV joints fit?

[John]

2 last pics

The Cv joints are for up to mid year 1984 911 parts. (6) 8 mm bolts.
The Trans output flanges are coarse spline 915.
The Stub axles are 911 again up to mid year 1984.

The axle shafts are modified 914/6 axles.

The 944 CV joints are supposed to have the same spline pattern as the 914-4 axle shafts, but again the ends need to be modified to accept the wider CV joints.

I do not know about 944 stub axles.

[blabla914]

2 last pics

The Cv joints are for up to mid year 1984 911 parts. (6) 8 mm bolts.
The Trans output flanges are coarse spline 915.
The Stub axles are 911 again up to mid year 1984.

The axle shafts are modified 914/6 axles.

The 944 CV joints are supposed to have the same spline pattern as the 914-4 axle shafts, but again the ends need to be modified to accept the wider CV joints.

I do not know about 944 stub axles.

Many thanks John. I believe Clay used a 944 stub, but this requires machining of an extra shoulder on the 944 part. Using a 911 stub makes a lot of sense.

Kelly

[Mueller]

I don't know what I just sent to Mike Mueller for redrilling the dowel pin, but they have a porsche part number, AND they fit the original -6 axle without turning down the shoulder. They just don't have the dowel holes. (The holes are there, but they are the same size as the others, and not big enough for the rolled pin). Maybe Mike can look at the part number on the box and see what they originally fit.

A few interesting things about the /4 and the /6 CV's

/4's

has relief for gasket
33 spline count
10mmX20mm deep c'bore
OD of CV is same from face to face (94mm)
body thickness (32mm)



/6's
(part # 901-332-031-10 according a web search showing them to be /6 CV's, but the lack of the holes for the dowls makes me question that)
no relief for gasket
25 spline count
no 10mmX20mm deep c'bore
body thickness is (32mm)
OD of CV goes from 94mm to 89.90mm face to face (same as VW bug Type I CV's (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) )