I just bought my first Audi. '06 A3. Loving this ride. OK, so the drv side outercv boot is spliy..I removed the axle, put it in a vice and have been unsuccessful removing the cv joint from the axle...im beating a railroad spike into the inner race of the cv joint with a 3lb. sledgehammer. No f#%$ing luck after many many hard whacks. Anyone have ANY thoughts as to what I might not be doing to get this joint off of the axle???????

 

Usually the whole axle is replaced, I personally do not know of anywhere you can even purchase the joint only. BTW I have been selling auto parts for the last 10 years

 

Anyone with experience removing the cv joint from the axle?

 

It's possible, but it takes time. Your best bet is not a heavy hammer, but a belt pulley remover. However, I agree with derZeck - just but a compete assembly. It takes less than 2 hours to complete the job, and it comes with a piece of mind. Don't buy a refurbished axle, if you decide to go this route, because they tend to bend/warp fast.

Good luck!

 

Single father, let a rack and axle place pound it off. Upon reinstallung axle to trans, broke 1 of the 6 bolts. Insert smiley....audi dealer doesnt have replacement bolt(s), and honestly they had trouble even figuring out what bolt....how hard can that be???? So, ecstuning is overnighting the 12mm triple square bolts...haha, i dont care. Wanted to do this..Maybe stupidly I'm unphased by any setbacks.