halfshaft help urgent!!!!!

[zeke in okc]

Im replacing the half shafts on my 07 2.0 wagon. I went to pull the old half shaft out and the axle came right out of the inner boot! Now I can't seem to get the inner cv joint housing out of the transmission! I've got work in the morning! Please, someone give me some directions!

[paisat]

Are you trying to remove the driver side axle shaft out of the transmission? you need some leverage to get it out. You need some kind of wedge to place between the transmission and the axle shaft. There is a solid peice that you can use for leverage right below it. Place the prybar or wedge tool between the axle shaft and transmission. bang on the pry bar or wedge tool with a hammer to pop the axle out. It's a pain the ass. I don't know if I'm making any sense.

Edit: I've only replaced my driver side. not sure how the passenger side is done.

[zeke in okc]

oh my god you are a life saver. I know exactly what your saying. I just have to jack the car a little higher to get under there! I am doing the drivers side right now! Thank you for being a vw head and surfing the forum on a friday night!

[zeke in okc]

are there other jackpoints than the side areas?

[paisat]

I usually jack it up from the points under the front doors and hold them up with jackstands on the contol arm points.

[zeke in okc]

where are the control arm points: Is that where the lower a arm connects to the chassis right next to the transmission?

[paisat]

If you are too low put a couple of 2x4`s under the tires to help sit the car higher to be able to jack it up.

[paisat]

It is the round humps where the control arm moves up and down.

[zeke in okc]

the problem is the floor jack I used to jack the car is small. I cant get a jack stand in next to it though, So I am trying to find a place to put a jackstand. Are you referring to the area at the rear of the lower a arm? I took the lower a arm loose at the wheel end to allow the hub to swivel out of the way of the drive shaft. I just wanna make sure I get the stand in the right place.

[zeke in okc]

GOt it jacked up and stable with a heavy duty jack stand. Gonna call it a night and try to get the cup out of the transmission tomorrow evening. Thanks for all the help. Suggestions on what to use as a wedge tool would be appreciated. I've tried my pry bar and it doesn't want to give up.

[paisat]

Cool glad to see you got it on jackstands. Sorry I couldn't answer you faster but my phone died waiting for my Thai food pick up.

[paisat]

I've heard some people using a heavy duty flat head screwdriver. I used a pry bar that is used for flooring but it took me forever to get it wedged in correctly. I would check out the local hardware store for something that might work a little bit better.

[Tutti57]

I put a chisel on an air hammer, put it between the shaft and the tranny and it popped right out in 2 seconds. I wasn't angling it to push the axle out but rather straight up to just work its way in, which forced the axle out using the thickness of the chisel.

If you don't have air tools, try hammering something tapered like a large punch (preferably brass) in there.

All the prying in the world did nothing for me but this worked in seconds.

Good luck!


2006 Passat 2.0T
Neuspeed P-Flo Intake/New South Boost Gauge, eBay Climate Knobs, VCDS

[zeke in okc]

Headed to work this morning in the wife's car, I will be back on it this evening for sure! I will keep posting.

[zeke in okc]

well, stopped by steves wholesale, bought a 4 dollar cv joint puller (looks like a giant tuning fork) 5 minutes later it was out. 30 minutes later, all buttoned up. thanks again guys, gonna do the passenger side in a little bit! was a little nervous cause the aftermarket inner cv housing didn't fit flush against the tranny. It wouldn't pull out though. Then I checked the passenger side spline and they seem to be about a quarter of an inch longer, so I guess thats okay.

[Tutti57]

Awesome! Gotta love cheap tools that work.


2006 Passat 2.0T
Neuspeed P-Flo Intake/New South Boost Gauge, eBay Climate Knobs, VCDS

[zeke in okc]

unfortunately, now when I put the car in drive I have a very distinctive clunking noise before the car goes forward, any ideas? I also have a pretty good wobble in the front end?

[Tutti57]

Maybe the shaft isn't fully seated in the transmission.


2006 Passat 2.0T
Neuspeed P-Flo Intake/New South Boost Gauge, eBay Climate Knobs, VCDS

[kalobg]

well, stopped by steves wholesale, bought a 4 dollar cv joint puller (looks like a giant tuning fork) 5 minutes later it was out. 30 minutes later, all buttoned up. thanks again guys, gonna do the passenger side in a little bit! was a little nervous cause the aftermarket inner cv housing didn't fit flush against the tranny. It wouldn't pull out though. Then I checked the passenger side spline and they seem to be about a quarter of an inch longer, so I guess thats okay.

Just for future reference, the best tool is either the cv joint puller, or a ball joint tool (pickle fork). They both look like a tuning fork where the fork is wedge shaped. Just stick that thing between the transmission and the housing of the CV axle and give the end a few taps with a hammer and the CV joint will pop right out.

I've used the ball joint tool on half a dozen cars and axle swaps Harbor Freight.

[zeke in okc]

sounds like exactly what I bought and your right, worked like a charm!