Rear Wheel hub-Axle Shafts

[C4Fanatic]

Managed to get it all apart and replaced the wheel hub, now the trick is to get the axle shaft back in. Anyone ever managed to do this without removing that big slug of aluminum that all the suspension and leaf spring bolts to? Just not quite enough room with the outer yoke in place to squeeze the shaft ujoints back into the carriers. Please tell me it's doable and I don't have to remove everything, including the spring...

[XfireZ51]

Managed to get it all apart and replaced the wheel hub, now the trick is to get the axle shaft back in. Anyone ever managed to do this without removing that big slug of aluminum that all the suspension and leaf spring bolts to? Just not quite enough room with the outer yoke in place to squeeze the shaft ujoints back into the carriers. Please tell me it's doable and I don't have to remove everything, including the spring...

I remove the stub axle bearing nut, the trailing arms into the chassis bolts, lower control arm to hub carrier, sway bar joint, and lower shock to carrier nut. Sounds like a lot but I'd rather have easy access to those Torx head bolts. I'm actually doing this job today to install the rear Z06 brake caliper adapter. This way I leave the shafts bolted to the diff and slide the hub carrier onto the end of the stub axle.
May want to undo the lower control arm and loosen the lower shock nut to give some extra room.

[C4Fanatic]

Thanks much, that was what I was afraid of. So I guess tomorrow I start unhooking stuff...AFTER golf...

[batchman]

I've never taken mine that far apart so I can't help with your question, but I've never had a problem getting at the 3 Torx bolts from underneath - never taken more than the caliper and axle nut out from outside the car.

Using long extensions (I think 3/8" and wobble is helpful) and rotating the axle shaft to get past the outer u-joint depending on which bolt you're chasing goes pretty quick. In fact you don't even need to pull the bolts all the way out.

One thing to watch out for is the orientation of the thin "washer" with the curved lip on the stub axle. Offhand I can't recall which way it goes but make a note of it before removing and chant to myself...

Good luck with re-assembly,
- Jeff