Parts for your 2000 Ford Falcon-Cv joint

2000 Ford Falcon CV Joint — What’s Fitted and How to Look After It

Technical references confirm the 2000 Ford Falcon (AU Series II) is rear‑wheel drive, so it doesn’t use front CV joints at all. On sedans specified with Independent Rear Suspension (IRS), there are CV joints at each end of the rear half‑shafts. Sedans with the live rear axle, plus all wagons and utes of this era, do not have rear CV joints. This layout is documented in the Ford AU Falcon Workshop Manual (Driveline/Final Drive sections), Gregory’s Manual No. 282: Ford Falcon AU 1998–2002 (Rear Suspension and Driveshaft chapters), and Ellery’s Ford Falcon AU Series Service Manual, which show the IRS half‑shafts with inner and outer CV joints and the live‑axle models without them.

For IRS‑equipped 2000 Falcons, the CV joint is there to transfer drive to the rear wheels while the suspension moves up and down, keeping everything smooth when the wheels steer slightly through toe changes and camber movement. Each half‑shaft runs an inner plunge joint and an outer fixed joint, both packed with high‑moly grease and sealed by rubber boots. When those boots split, grease escapes, water and grit get in, and the joint starts to wear — that’s when owners hear clicking on power, feel vibration under load, or spot grease flung around the wheel well.

As part of regular servicing, it’s smart to:

• Inspect rear CV boots at every oil change for splits, cracks, or loose clamps.
• Wipe away fling and check for play or roughness when rotating the wheel by hand.
• Listen for clunks or rhythmic vibration on acceleration and at highway speeds.

If a boot is only just torn and the joint’s still silky, a boot kit and fresh grease can save the day. If there’s clicking, corrosion, or gritty movement, a complete CV/half‑shaft assembly is the reliable fix. Replacement on an AU IRS sedan typically involves removing the rear wheel, hub fasteners, and circlips, then easing the shaft out of the diff and hub. New seals, fresh grease, and correct torque on hub and flange fasteners are important — the workshop manuals list specs and steps worth following to the letter. A wheel alignment isn’t usually required after a shaft swap, but it’s a good time to check rear toe and camber settings if bushes are tired.

Owners who tow, drive lots of gravel, or see heavy rain should shorten inspection intervals. Using quality boots, proper clamps, and the right spec grease will keep the AU’s IRS CV joints happy for heaps of kilometres.

Popular questions about 2000 Ford Falcon cv‑joint

Does a 2000 Ford Falcon have CV joints?
It depends on the variant. All AU Falcons are rear‑wheel drive, so there are no front CV joints. IRS‑equipped sedans have CV joints on the rear half‑shafts, live‑axle sedans, wagons, and utes don’t.

How can someone check the rear CV joints on an AU Falcon?
Look for split boots and grease fling on the rear suspension and inner guards, then rotate the rear wheel off the ground to feel for roughness or play. On a test drive, a worn joint often clicks on acceleration out of corners or causes a steady vibration under load.

Should the boot be replaced or the whole CV shaft?
If the boot has only just split and the joint is still smooth and quiet, a boot‑and‑grease service is fine. If there’s clicking, corrosion, or slop, replacing the complete shaft is the more dependable long‑term fix.