Hello.

I ordered a pair of new Fabia CV joints from GSF (GKN branded) but they did not include the plastic thrust washer with either of them, and as my old CV joint had completely grenaded itself (went noisy in Belgium, and by the time I got to London it had all disintegrated, and as I was pulling into my parking spot the shaft dropped out of the cage!), I could not even locate the old plastic washer as I planned to re-use it, it had probably turned to dust, so that plan went out of the window!

So, to get the car back on the road quickly I fitted the new CV joint without this washer, but have ordered a pair from VW, at a whopping £0.35+VAT each having determined the part number on ETKA, will be here next week.  

Does anyone know if there are likely to be implications of the shaft being able to move inside the CV joint by 4-5mm due to no nylon thrust washer present (BTW I fitted the metal Belleville washer) until I manage to get in there again and rectify this issue?  I am shocked that GKN would omit a plastic piece costing pennies out of a kit that costs £72 per joint!

Edited 22 November, 201312 yr by oh_superb

its not ideal but it will be ok, its the circlip on the tip of the shaft that holds the joint on as you know, but splined washers (if fitted) and the conical plastic thrust washer you mention are there to preload the circlip to stop it moving, without them fitted there will be a small amount of lash between the shaft and the outer joint which will eventually break the circlip.. at the inner joint there is approx 15mm of articulation (plunge) on the floating ball and cage joint as the steering goes from lock to lock, normally the outer joint has no plunge at all so the shaft stays in a fixed position in relation to the cv joint inner cage races because the thrust washers keep it preloaded... this plunge at the inner joint will be pulling and pushing against the circlip on the outer joint..

 

anyway, enough horror mongering, it will be ok, but sort it out when you can

Thanks for the quick reply, easier breathing for a few days now!!