Hello there,
I'm trying to remove my drive shafts from the differential gear;

My gearbox seems different from those ones I see here on fiat forum, that have the gaiter of the inner cv joints attached to the differential gear.

On my differential gear, two cups are sticking out, and so the whole inner cv joint is external to the differential gear.

My intention was to remove the whole drive shaft, without dismantle the inner cv joint.

I have tried to unbolt the four bolts that held the square metal plate that you can see on photo.
But it seems to come out only 1cm or so. I'm afraid to snap something if I pry on that.
There is something else that holds the shaft inside?

They are held in with snap rings so do require a lever either side and quite a bit of force to 'pop' them out.

however, you do not have to dismantle the inner CV joints to get the shaft out. Undo the clip on the CV boot and the spider will just slide out of the cup in the diff. Its a tripod or spider joint, all self contained.

Unless you are intent on doing the driveshaft/gearbox oil seals, leave the cups in the box.

D

Yes, I have to change oil seals (and also strip down the bell housing for clutch replacement).
If the cup come out from the differential gear, I can avoid to cut the metal band that hold the gaiter;

I don't understand how you can pry out an axle locked by a snap ring (some sort of circlip?) without damaging something.

Perhaps I can dismantle the differential gear on the car, take out the circlip, remove the driveshafts;

then, I can remove the bell housing and check the differential gear on the workbench.

Don't cut CV gaiter clips. Undo them.

Take the shafts out of the cups.

Remove box, do the job on the diff on the bench.

They do 'pop' without damaging anything. They are only held in with a snap ring

Cheers

D

Ok, Now I know it is possible to take down the gaiter clips without cutting.
I raised a little lip and then I gently pried out the other end of the clip.
I'm not so sure that it would be so easy to "stretch" one end of clip on the little lip when I will have to reinstall it.

I will use a plastic bag for every end of the cv joint to avoid contamination.

Don't spend ages fiddling about with the old clips.. they're pretty cheap:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/C-V-Unive...580430?hash=item1eb68afb0e:g:T4sAAOSw-itXtIKQ


Ralf S.

Ralph S.

It wasn't really a problem of cost..... I (wrongly) thought that it would be a hassle to find the specific gaiter clip.... I didn't think that they are like the jubilee clips, more or less "universal"...;
So I'll buy some of them: if the old ones can be easily and firmly close again, I'll have spare parts for the future....

eolonano said:

Ralph S.

It wasn't really a problem of cost..... I (wrongly) thought that it would be a hassle to find the specific gaiter clip.... I didn't think that they are like the jubilee clips, more or less "universal"...;
So I'll buy some of them: if the old ones can be easily and firmly close again, I'll have spare parts for the future....

Click to expand...

Buy the proper pliers too. Makes life so much easier.

D

Hi,

I changed my clutch last summer, had a similar problem to yourself. However I tried to release the inner side of the drive shaft I just couldn't. Using two pry bars just didn't work for me. I couldn't release the shaft as the 'circlip' just wouldn't compress for me. In the end I used a small extension bar and tapped it in between the gearbox/driveshaft housing. Go carefully and DON'T Use too much force. The driveshaft popped out. That was after much swearing in a dark garage in 35 deg C heat...about three hours...I fell 'out of love' with my 'Se' until that moment. Then all was forgiven.

I assume you have removed the hub etc from the 'wheel end' also? Just checking...

Re assembly was achieved by using a lump hammer, a big bit of wood to protect the 'hub end' of the drive shaft and some gentle taps...much easier than removal.

Thank you Bubble Hubble for your reply.
Due to the fact that I bought another identical gearbox with cups in it (I decided to do that because my differential gear bearings are shot, and I don't Have time now to do a fix), I have at the moment no need to remove the old cups.
But in the end, as you suggested, is the amount of force that you put in it: I'm always afraid to break something.....

...And yes, my hub was hanging freely (I'm replacing wish bones, dampers, even a part of the steering rack...)

If you're going to take the box out to work on a bench it's easier to take the diff housing off and then you can see the CV cup shaft ends in the middle of the diff, you can then lever the Shaft ends out with a large screwdriver.