The axle stub is of one piece with the outer section of the CV joint.
The axle stub is splined and locks into the splines of the front wheel
hub. If the wheel is installed you can use it to hold the axle stub from
turning while you tighten the nut onto the axle stub. I have done this
myself. You need to remove the balls from the outer CV joint and then
the inner part of the joint will come off as well as the main axle.
Driving with just the stub axles in the front hubs gives proper support
to the front wheel bearing but you loose the speedometer function if the
center driveshaft is also removed. The front diff must be turning for
the speedo to work since the Syncro speedo cable  is driven by it.

Mark

Hans Achter wrote:

> I was thinking about that alternative, but how do you keep the CV
> joint in place to tighten the axle
> nut?
> -Hans
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "MilosKitchen" <sagmoore@ZOOMINTERNET.NET>
>
>> Not speaking from personal experience but, many years ago I used to
>> frequent
>> a small VW repair shop south of Pittsburgh. Cheapness (or is that
>> frugality?)  knows no bounds. One of their customers did not want to
>> renew
>> the front CV's on his Syncro. The solution was to remove the front
>> axles and
>> disassemble the outer CV's. They then reinstalled just the outer CV
>> "cup"
>> and axle spindles, thereby keeping the wheel bearing preload. The
>> customer
>> said the van went like a bat, comparatively.
>>
>> I'm not suggesting it, merely saying it has been done.
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>