Drive Shaft Stub Gearbox Issue Help

[MATTIE281]

Whilst removing the turbo from my tdi today I took the shaft out, struggling to undo the exhaust off the turbo I planned to take out the little stub piece off the gearbox so I had more room with the ratchet. I undone the Allen bolt but it just spins ? Does not pull out, I got turbo off but not sure what to do with the box now

[insanitybeard]

As I understand it, that stub shaft is under spring tension from within the gearbox so when refitting the bolt you need to apply A LOT (ie, lever it in against something) of inward force on the stub shaft to get the thread of the bolt to catch, without doing this the thread is probably just spinning in air as you try to do it back up. 

[insanitybeard]

Ok, I didn't read your original post properly. So you never took the stub shaft out of the box? It looks like that retaining bolt actually threads into the differential so if it's just spinning then it's probably just rotating with the diff. Try putting the vehicle in gear (with the nearside wheel on the ground so it can't rotate) to stop the diff spinning and try again. You'll still need to apply force to overcome the spring pressure.

Edited June 2, 2014 by insanitybeard

[MATTIE281]

Cheers for replying. It's not spinning the diff. It's just spinning the bolt but will not tighten or come out. It's as if it screws in to a captive nut that has come off in side ?

Matt

[insanitybeard]

Are you absolutely positive the planetary gearset in the diff is not spinning when you turn the bolt? It may not be the complete diff rotating. As well as I can tell from the parts diagram the bolt threads directly into the sun wheels, or at least a captive nut attached to them- see this (number 19 possibly).

Edited June 2, 2014 by insanitybeard

[MATTIE281]

I see what you mean, if the planetary gears are turning how do I stop that while I tighten the Allen bolt ? If I took the other shaft out do you think I could see the nut through the diff?

[MATTIE281]

I see what you mean, if the planetary gears are turning how do I stop that while I tighten the Allen bolt ? If I took the other shaft out do you think I could see the nut through the diff?

[insanitybeard]

In theory putting the vehicle in gear should do it, but only if the nearside wheel is prevented from rotating (i.e, on the ground) as you tighten the bolt for the offside stub shaft.

[kbaltais]

Don`t know how you fixed it, but i got same problem recently while trying to change stub axle.Got alen bolt out with impact gun and threads were gone on both ends. Managed to make new one in box and fitted improved shaft from motomax.