The real trick is to properly line up the inner and outer races. There are
pictures of the proper alignment at:

http://www.relitech.com/tomc/cvjoints.htm

The joints can be disassembled and re-assembled with the inner race still
on the half-shaft. You just can't replace the boots with the inner race
still on the half-shaft.

Good luck!

TomC
tcarrington@relitech.com
http://www.relitech.com/tomc/tomvw.htm

-----Original Message-----
From:   Marshall Ruskin [SMTP:mruskin@PANGEA.CA]
Sent:   Saturday, May 01, 1999 7:28 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Serious problems with CV reinstall -HELP!

Volks:

I'm having real trouble reinstalling my cv's - I think I may have done it
wrong, here's the problem:

I have my half axle out. The inner race, and bearing cage are on the half
axle. Problem is, I can't get the outer race back on.

Where I think I'm in error, is that I NOW! think the inner race has to be
removed from axle, and entire CV reassembled first, then pressed back onto
axle.

What is strange here is that the outer race came off, basically, all by
itself, without any jiggling or wiggling etc. Now I can't get it back on.

The "complicating thing" is that my inner races are extremely tight on the
axle, and I had to get one pressed off by shop hydralics to slide the
replacement boot on.

So, should I buy a gear puller, to remove said inner race, and then
assemble
cv and pound back onto axle? Or is there some way to get outer race onto
CV,
with inner race still on half-axle?

TIA

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy "Iron Igloo"
Founding Member of "Vanagon's Anonymous"