John, and the many others who sent helpful hints on this one, thanks.
I finally managed to get it off, using a variety of these methods. The best
one seemed to be placing the axle horizontally in the vise, and sliding a
hammer along the axle to hit the 3 larger CV hub surfaces in turn (this was
after removing the balls and outer cage). It took nearly 2 hours of on and
off pounding, during which my vise bolts came loose from all the abuse.
I had to file the splines clean to fix the mushrooming that was keeping it
from coming off. The hub seems ok after filing some of the burrs off - the
joint is showing the first signs of pitting, so I wasn't worried about
destroying a pristine CV. I'll put it back on and see how it lasts, at least
now I can get it off next time. I was able to install and remove several
times with about 8-10 hammer blows after cleaning up the splines.

This just reconfirms that CVs are still my least favourite job... :-(

On 21 Sep 2003 at 20:43, John Rodgers <j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET> wrote:

> Shawn, I use a 1/2 inch steel bar and a hammer to drive the CV inner
> race off the shaft.
>
> Use at least a 1/2 inch bar about half as long as the axle. I'm left
> handed so I held the axle and the bar together, parallel to each other,
> with my left hand, with the end of the bar on the face of the inner
> race. I simply held the whole assembly up about an inch over a block of
> wood, and then whacked the upper end of the bar with a 3 pound hammer.
> Then I shiffted the bar around slightly, ans whacked the bar again. I
> did this several times and the CV race came right off. It took several
> licks at it to get it done, but it moved, even though it was tight.
>
> Hopes this helps.
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> Shawn Wright wrote:
>
> >As per usual, a simple job is quickly becoming several major pain in *ass
> >type jobs...
> >While I ponder options on the trans mount issue, I tackled the torn outer
> >CV boot. Pulled the axle, removed the circlip, and went to whack the CV
> >off shaft. It moved about 2mm, then refused to go any further. I know
> >Bentley shows are press for this, but I've done them before without a
> >press. Any ideas on how to coax this thing off the shaft? I thought of trying a
> >plumbers torch, but I'm out of gas. Should I just give up and take the axle to
> >a shop?
> >
> >--
> >Shawn Wright
> >http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
> >'88 Westy 375k
> >'85 Jetta D 263k
> >'85 Jetta TD 482k (retired)
> >~This message sent by Pegasus Mail, the safe E-Mail alternative~
> >"Friends don't let friends use Outlook"
> >
> >
> >
>

--
Shawn Wright
http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright
'88 Westy 375k
'85 Jetta D 263k
'85 Jetta TD 482k (retired)
~This message sent by Pegasus Mail, the safe E-Mail alternative~
"Friends don't let friends use Outlook"