S6 front axle boots

A6 All/ S6 All
#1

So I’ve got an inner axle boot that is torn on the front. I’ve got the axle out… which was the easy part. I went ahead and got the inner and outer boots to replace… I just cannot figure out how to get these cv joints apart. I’ve taken the axle shafts out of cv joints on a land cruiser before and that was easy compared to this.
So the outer CV joint is not wanting to come apart. I know how you’ve got to compress the snap ring that is hidden inside the cv joint but every bit of force I have used has not worked.
I can’t figure out how to get the inner joint apart either. All the photos of similar cars show you being able to get to the backside of the inner joint and take the bearing pieces out, but this one is all sealed on the back.

Any ideas? tips? photos?

#2

If you can take pictures of what your talking about it can be more helpful. Its not like there is 10 different snap rings but just to make sure we are all on the same page.

You do need to get the snap ring out and usually best results are by putting the CV joint in a off load position to take the load… however very little off the snap ring itself.

#3

Here is the outer joint.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21034722_10210291562977980_4374704207041436994_n.jpg?oh=4f12341b70f710a7200d9b244af0b507&oe=5A28F11F

I cannot get the axle shaft to separate from the cv joint.

Here is the inner joint. I can’t figure out how this joint is suppose to come apart. The three bearings don’t move any further out than what is shown in the picture. The other end where it bolts to the front diff is completely sealed also.

https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/21034289_10210291562937979_3506450522860881427_n.jpg?oh=7cca72ad833740f27029c28c67959a01&oe=5A1B3567

#4

I just did the inners last month. You can see that the housing is staked, which prevents the rollers from sliding out of the housing. Of course Audi has a special tool, but you don’t need it.

I clamped the shaft in a vice with plastic jaws so as to not mar the powder coating.
Next hold the housing straight with one hand so that each roller abuts its respective pair of stakes in the housing.
Now carefully hit the perimeter of the housing with a plastic faced mallet using your other hand. Repeat and eventually the rollers will clears the housing stakes.
As the repair manuals say installation is reverse of removal.

One last tip: make sure you grease the hell out of the splines when you put the roller hub back on the shaft. A shop press will be helpful for this job.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

#5

I ended up only taking the inner triple roller side apart. Found some youtube video of a guy taking one apart and it all started coming apart. I still couldn’t get the shaft out of the outer CV joint. The new axle boot slid over the axle shaft to get to the outer joint so I didn’t bother trying to get it apart anymore. The CV boot clamp pliers I bought at the auto parts store were crap and bent like crazy when I was putting on the first clap. Ended up finding some pliers at home depot that were much beefier. The GKN parts are also way cheaper than Audi parts and they are the same thing.