Took the right side axle out of my 1996 A6 to replace a torn boot but I cannot get it back in! To get the axle out I undid the inner cv then pulled the outer cv out of the wheel bearing. At first it seemed like there was no way there'd be room without taking the suspension apart... then suddenly I got the thing in the right place at the right angle with the right bend to the outer cv - and presto it practically fell out! I thought I knew what this magic yoga pose was but I am completely stumped and cannot get the thing back in for the life of me! Suggestions please!

The axle that came out had popped its cap off the back.. thinking that had something to do with it? The ball joint ( there is only one lower) does not want to budge.. and the sway bar doesn't help matters.

 

I thinkmagic helped youto get itapart.

Maybe others have different experience but I always too the lower ball joint apart to change an axel.

 

Thanks, It seems like others also have to lower ball joint and other suspension components. I haven't found anything specific about this platform A6 with one lower balljoint on the control arm with sway bar attached and just an uppr tie rod. Bentleys is no help unfortunately.

I really didn't want to mess with the ball joint because all I have is a fork and I didn't want to hurt the boot... I will have to look for tips on an easier way to get the lower ball joint off.

I did get the axle back on. The magic trick is to pop the cover off the drive end by standing the axle on wheel end and lightly tapping around drive flange. Put cap aside and pull back on outer flange and boot - out pops the greasey cv joint. I then carefully insert the wet end into the drive area - without knocking road dirt into the cv joint. .. and voila! room to insert the dry end in the wheel hole! I then put the cap on as tight as I could and then screwed in the drive end of the cv - hoping that this either pushes the cap on all the way or enough to seal out anything that might get in there. I figure since the original fell off when I took the axle off that there can't be that much required to hold it on... I hope. Sure saves a lot of time. just have to find this post next time I need this info.

 

Damn - I love magic!

BTW What is road dirt? I once heard some mention it but I have never seen any. [:'(][:'(]

 

Judging by all the photos people post on Audi Forums - I believe this "road dirt" must be unique to Vermont. I bought this car in NH and by the time I got it home it was covered in the stuff. The cool thing is- it makes it look like you actually need the all wheel drive. I can scrape off some of this substance and send it to you or anyone who is looking for that authentic off road look. Makes a great x-mas gift for your mechanic when applied to the UNDERSIDE of the car!

 

It certainly didn't get road dirt it NH and I find it strange that it didn't get covered with cow dung, cheese, maple syrup,or Ben & Jerry's in VT. The best I can figure is that you drovetoo close to MA and got the dirt from theirpolitics.

 

I know what you did, you hit the cv joint with a hammer instead of screwing in the old bolt and hitting that with a hammer. In other words you flatened the tip of the cv joint so it won't go back into the hub (done it before ) You have to get a triangle file and try and do what you can to grind it back down so it will fit.