strangest thing just happened... (axle self removal)

[Smokey Eddy]

I drove about 600km yesterday and on my way to work this morning the driver side axle decided it didn't want to be buddies with the flange on the transmission anymore and it just came off...
What are the chances of all six of those bolts backing out?!
The thing made a pretty terrific racket and broke some shift linkage (which im not too worried about) but what do you think the chances of the CV joint still being ok? The boot is twisted up and it almost looks like one of the bolts is still in there.
Didn't have too much time to take a look as I needed to get to work but has this happened to anyone else???

PS. I can't stand my car anymore so don't be surprised if you all see a parting out thread coming my way once I find a suitable AWD Subaru. I wish the subaru's would take a VW Tdi but there just isn't the room.

[CRSMP5]

happened to me years ago... side of road.. screw driver to get them all back in...

[Smokey Eddy]

happened to me years ago... side of road.. screw driver to get them all back in...

Yeah im hoping i can just put it back together. It's humorously close to my house so I'll just get my roomie to drive me back to my car with a floor jack, ratchet, triple square, 17mm/breakerbar and hopefully i'll be able to get a new shift link (the short plastic one on the O2O).

But none of the threads were destroyed or anything hey? The joint was ok and stuff?

[8v-of-fury]

I have had this exact same thing happen!! It was right after my TDI swap, and I guess i forgot to tighten some of.. well ALL of the inner cv bolts and it popped off when i took off from a light.

My heart sunk, I thought i roasted an 020 after a week! lol. Mine was ok. new bolts and voila. (only because i lost some and screwed threads on a few too as it happened at the highest load possible.. take off.

[fatmobile]

I've had this happen a couple times.
 Usually after a long road trip.

 It's always happened to me at a stop.
 Pulled up to pay for parking and it wouldn't go when I let the clutch out.

 No damage just threaded the bolts back in.
 Hasn't happened in a long while, I always check the axle bolts before a trip.

[Smokey Eddy]

I lost the balls inside the joint. Could i just swap replacement balls in there? I have 2 of the im assuming six?
when i packed these (they are replacements) i seem to recall having to be careful not to let it compress too much as the collar holds the balls in the cage...

[Smokey Eddy]

Also, anyone know the torque spec off hand? I can't see the spec in my sheets...
I want to say 27 ft.lbs but it will be an even number in NM.

Last thing I want to add to this post, Did you fellas put it back together without having to undo the strut on that side? It looks like it will go back but im not sure.
Mine also came free violently. It damaged the shift linkage... I have to bend it back.

[bbob203]

33 on the footlbs replaced a cv boot today.

[CRSMP5]

<----- side of road... no jack.. so pull hand brake.. pop in neutral so flange turns... start 3.. roll car to do other 3.. start them... tighten them as well as you can with tool you have to utilize (screw driver for me that day.. came home, jack up tighten w xzn)... roll car do tighten the 3 you have prevously started...

no with that.. should be able to do with rest of car and wheel in place

[R.O.R-2.0]

I lost the balls inside the joint. Could i just swap replacement balls in there? I have 2 of the im assuming six?
when i packed these (they are replacements) i seem to recall having to be careful not to let it compress too much as the collar holds the balls in the cage...

all parts of a CV joint are matched to the joint..

if it fell apart, and the balls are gone, then its no good..

you might be able to swap in some used balls, but it will probably be loose, and not last very long..

[Smokey Eddy]

I decided to part the car out and send the rest to scrap in about a week or so.

[R.O.R-2.0]

I decided to part the car out and send the rest to scrap in about a week or so.

wow..

talk about giving up..

having the axle bolts fall out made you decide to scrap the car?!

how depressing..

[Smokey Eddy]

The whole car is just weighing too much on me. Its basically worthless and I got a smoking deal on a 2000 golf tdi.  Its not just the cv. Rad fan mount, all the front lights aren't mounted solidly. The speedo still doesn't work. The exhaust leaks. No air bags. Too low. Rough ride. No intake snorkel. The list goes on...
$2k for a dealership babied mk4 golf is too good to pass up.

[Smokey Eddy]

The crank on that aaz needs to be turned... the I'm shaft bearings keep wearing.

[Smokey Eddy]

I think the struts are shot again... the tires are Mega bald... the tips fell off the exhaust.