97 850 A arm problem, maybe axle problem

gjz30075 · Post by **gjz30075** » 16 Dec 2010, 12:49

Hi all,
I'm replacing the lower A arms on my '97 850 glt and the driver's side went fine. Passenger side, (right side) however is giving me problems. I can't get the strut close enough inward to connect the arm. It looks like the axle might have come out of either the center bearing or the transaxle but look at the boot stretched out. What do you think happened here and how easy is it to fix, at this point? Thanks.

gjz30075 · Post by **gjz30075** » 16 Dec 2010, 14:28

Maybe this is where the problem is. Is this normal? Looks like the axle is out of the transmission a little bit.

gjz30075 · Post by **gjz30075** » 17 Dec 2010, 06:20

Thought I'd bounce this to the top with an edit to the title, for another looksee.
Thanks

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 17 Dec 2010, 06:29

It looks to me like you pulled the inner CV joint apart. You can remove the boot and try to put it back together but you will need a new clamp for the boot.

...Lee

gjz30075 · Post by **gjz30075** » 17 Dec 2010, 07:56

Lee, thanks for confirming my suspicions. I wasn't certain if it was possible to pull apart but I guess so now.

Post by **confused_al** » 17 Dec 2010, 09:31

Ozark Lee wrote:It looks to me like you pulled the inner CV joint apart. You can remove the boot and try to put it back together but you will need a new clamp for the boot.

...Lee

If that boot is old, I would just replace it since you need take it off anyway. Wouldn't you?

gjz30075 · Post by **gjz30075** » 17 Dec 2010, 10:05

The axle assembly is only about a year old so the boot is still very pliable. I was able to pull the boot back and was amazed to see how simple the cv joint is. I'm used to balls in a cage type found on VWs. With the spring a bit compressed with compressors, I grabbed the hub assembly, still containing the rotor, caliper,etc., with a bear hug and lifted and wrestled a bit while pushing and ...pop, the cv joint went back into the cavity. I quickly put the ball joint stud up into the hub and ,,,whew! done!
Thanks guys!