[s-cars] Lucky '95 S-6 Owner

[Robert Rossato]

> I've posted the Bentley pages relating to service of the axle 
> and CV joints here.  The instructions on removal of the axle 
> include the following caution: 
> 
> WARNING!
> 
> Do not loosen the bolt/washer assembly for the wheel hub unless the
> 
> car is standing on its wheels-risk of accident!
> 
> My questions now are: 
> 
> (1) Is the above caution simply intended to protect against 
> application of too much torque on the drive axle?, 

The reason for that statement is that the torque required to loosen the
bolt could topple the car if it is on a lift, or 4 jack stands.  This is
more likely on lighter cars like the old 1800 lb golf/sciroccos, but VAG
uses that warning for all cars.  Plus it's a lot easier to loosen and
tighten while it's on the ground so you don't have to have someone
standing on the brakes to keep the axle from turning, or put a pipe
wrench on the axle to stop it from turning.
 
> (2) Once loosened, should the wheel be removed to complete 
> removal of the axle?

No, but it makes it easier to see what you're doing

> 
> (3) Does the drive axle simply pull out of the outer CV joint 
> once disconnected at the transmission flange (the 
> instructions are not clear)?

Once you've removed the bolt holding in the outer CV joint to the hub,
and you've removed the inner CV joint from the transmission flange, the
entire axle will pull out of the front hub.  The outer CV joint has a
spline that fits into the hub.  If the outer boot is torn, and the axle
has disconnected from the outer CV joint, then you'll likely just pull
out the axle and inner CV joint leaving the outer CV still in the hub.
The axle has a spline that fits into the inside of the outer CV joint.
There is a circlip on the tip of the axle that, once it passes the
splined portion of the CV joint, expands slightly and retains the CV
joint on the end of the axle.   Not sure if that is all that clear, but
once you see it, it will be obvious.

> 
> (4) What are the chances that I could diagnose the problem by 
> pulling back the inner and outer cCVboots? 

You should be able to see evidence of the outer boot twisting if the
axle rotated relative to the CV joint.  Also, if it is disengaged you
should be able to turn the axle by hand and not have the wheel rotate.
May be a good reason to keep the wheel on for this so that you can get
the leverage on the wheel while you try to rotate the axle.

Bob