6 balls from Hell - CV Joint Reassembly SW20 MR2 Turbo

This is a guide for reassembling the CV joint for a 1991-1995 Toyota MR2 Turbo. This is an especially important article because the way the CV cage and bearings fit together easiest is the incorrect way to assemble it. See the image below. There are a few components to this CJ joint assembly:

6 Bearings

Cage

Inner race

Outer race

The inner race has long and short parts that allow it to grab onto the bearings (See the image). You must line up the short part of the inner race with the long part of the outer race. Initially, it will feel very tight. Leave the inner race on the ground, and carefully lift the outer race along with the cage AND bearings. You will want to lift the assembly high enough to where it feels like it's going to come out of the top. Keep in in that area. It may go over the top and you may have to start over; this is okay. Once it's at that point, carefully wiggle everything around, and it will literally fall into place. Sometimes you may have to give it a tap. Once it's together, it will move very freely, just like in the video.