Ok so i recently got an a4 avant and the front passenger axle had no boot it was wrapped in duct tape lol.i couldnt get the axle out no matter what i tried so it got to the point where i had to disconnect the controll arms and pull the outside part of the axle out first so i could really yank on in with no restriction after about 4 days of periodically pb blastering,hammering, and yanking it finally came out but i think it took the front diff ouput flange with it.now my question is can i seperate and put it back in?the new one i got from the store has a flat back with a bearing you have to grease but can it be a wrong part i got and i need one with splines?maybe there is no output shaft on this model and splines and axle are together and slip in? Any help would be greatly appretiated.its a 98 a4 avant 2.8 and its 5 speed

 

You pulled the output flange out of the transmission? Yes you can put it back in, just get a new circlip for the end of it and drive it back in. Theres a special tool to do it, but if you can drive it back in straight you won't have any problems, just be aware if you get it crooked you can crack the transmission case. Might be a good time to replace the output shaft seal since its already out at this point, and check your oil level in your differential when your done.

 

Yea the flange is still stick to the cv joint.i tried heat but dont want to heat the needle bearings right there so i still have it soaking in pb blaster since i got it out so i can seperate the flange to put back in.i tried hammering a little pick in the cupped rim of the flange to seperate the 2 with no luck.worst comes to worst im going to bring it to work monday and mill that piece of axle off of the flange.i have that cuirclip and seal on order too. Ill let you know how it goes

 

What the hell did you do?

All you have to do is take out the six bolts that bolt the inner cv joint up to the tranmission output shaft and the whole assembly will pull apart easy.

 

Thats what would happen in a perfect world but i figured maybe i was just being a wimp so i had a buddy try it with no luck either and he almost pulled the car sideways off the jack stands yanking on it after i took the control arms off and it was out on the outer end and you could really grab it with nothing in the way.the winning formula was wrapping it in a serious chain and having me and 2 others yank it out.and wheni i tried to separate the axle from the flange in a vive the bearing shattered and sent the ***** everywhere and seperated the actual axle shaft from that thick cylinder piece that buts up against the flange.i gave in and im milling it off at work right now.i tried everything heat, cold,going back and forth between the two,soaking in pb blaster for days i dont know what the hell the previous owner did but this **** is on there!