Is this a busted CV axle?

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missouritig

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2000 k3500 4x4

Is this a normal articulation to be able to separate the joint like that? I dont remember this on my gmt800
 

GoToGuy

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The easy way is the boot is usually blown out. Or if one shaft or both is suspect, make slow figure eight turn steering lock to lock, worn or broken cv will make make itself known.
I've never had one move like that, other side have that movement?
 

missouritig

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The easy way is the boot is usually blown out. Or if one shaft or both is suspect, make slow figure eight turn steering lock to lock, worn or broken cv will make make itself known.
I've never had one move like that, other side have that movement?
Going to find out, taking off the other side this weekend. It might be fine, I wonder if the boot has just got super stretchy when normally they are ridgid and keep that joint in better
 
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Schurkey

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The boot does not retain the joint.

MAYBE there's a popped snap-ring inside the inner joint. The snap-ring is totally un-needed unless the suspension has so much travel that the inner part of the joint pops out of the housing. Or--somebody deliberately lifts the housing so high that the inner part is pulled out--like you did in the video.

Consider releasing the "big" clamp on the boot, peel the boot down, and look for a 3" or so snap-ring. The downside here is that you'll have some fun getting a new clamp back on the boot. I went looking for a photo of the assembly, and got this Youtube video instead. This video shows that some inner CV joints don't have the big snap-ring I was talking about.

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If the joint has movement, but no ROTATIONAL FREE PLAY when assembled...maybe just reinstall the thing. If there's free-play, I'd be concerned that one of the bearings has fallen off of it's lil' stub-axle.
 
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missouritig

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Got my drivers side rebuilt. I definitely need to change the steering parts but that will be for another day.

I noticed when putting the CV axle in, it was doing this really weird thing where I couldn't spin the tire easily. I think the geometry was a bit too extreme, so I took it apart and jacked up the LCA and put it back in and it rotates fantastic now.

Thought for a second my axle was broken somehow but I guess thats just how they are
 
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