2020 VW GTI axle boot replacement

Dadillac · Mar 8, 2026

So MY son bought his first brand new car. He has a 20 GTI. We lowered the car on springs about 5 years ago. Just recently he hit a major pothole and had a rubbing issue. Took a look at it yesterday and found the front strut had slid down in the knuckle. We raised it back up and tightened it back up. But in the aftermath the bottom of the strut made contact with the axle boot and ripped it.

So here is where we need the help of the VW knowledgeable. In previous generations of GTI there is a long bolt included with the boot kit to separate the CV joint from the axle shaft. In the MK7 kit this bolt is not included. We searched Youtube and could not find a MK7 specific video. Question. Is the axle bolt that is on the car long enough to separate the CV joint from the axle shaft? If not how should this be done? We are planning to do this with the axle still attached at the transmission. Will putting some type of spacer (a small piece of cut bolt maybe) into the CV and then running the bolt in work? Would love to hear from the VW gurus who can halp out. Thanks and enjoy your day

Don

mk378 · Mar 8, 2026

Most people replace a complete axle rather than try to re-boot. And I think on almost all CV axles you need to take the inner joint apart to replace the outer boot.

oldcodger · Mar 8, 2026

As noted above. Replace the axle complete.

Escape08 · Mar 8, 2026

I replaced the driver side CV boot several years ago on my Ford Escape and I tell you, it's one heck of a job. Like others said you;re better off replacing the the axle. The bearings are likely toast due to dry grease.

RooflessVW · Mar 8, 2026

https://a.co/d/0dbHbIvO

Trav · Mar 8, 2026

Not a big job, just run the original bolt down with an impact, it will push the joint off. You need to buy a new bolt as it is TTY. This bolt can be lots of fun getting it off, it is tighter than a bulls backside in a hurricane. Use a long breaker bar and a jack handle to break it free or a big impact gun. It is 200 Nm + 180 deg so 200 Nm plus 1/2 a turn, it is not easy but 200 Nm alone is not cutting it.
Rock Auto has GKN outer joint with boot kit for $205 but does not seem to include the bolt.

CV Bolt GKN joint

Dadillac · Mar 9, 2026

Trav said:
Not a big job, just run the original bolt down with an impact, it will push the joint off. You need to buy a new bolt as it is TTY. This bolt can be lots of fun getting it off, it is tighter than a bulls backside in a hurricane. Use a long breaker bar and a jack handle to break it free or a big impact gun. It is 200 Nm + 180 deg so 200 Nm plus 1/2 a turn, it is not easy but 200 Nm alone is not cutting it.
Rock Auto has GKN outer joint with boot kit for $205 but does not seem to include the bolt.

CV Bolt GKN joint

Son the factory bolt is indeed long enough to accomplish this? Thanks for that. Also thanks for the heads up on the new bolt. I had no idea it was one time use

Don

Trav · Mar 10, 2026

Yes the factory bolt is long enough to remove it.

Dadillac · Mar 14, 2026

Well that didn't go as planned. The factory bolt didn't remove the CV joint. So had to completely remove the axle from the car. Long story short had to do the job twice. We didn't get the snap ring correct and my son got stuck during the first test drive. Was able to save the new clamp and we had another snap ring. Got it done correctly the second go around and all is well. What a fiasco. But we had a good time and we always have some great bonding during our projects together.

Don

Trav · Mar 18, 2026

Did the bolt bottom out?

Dadillac · Mar 19, 2026

Trav said:
Did the bolt bottom out?

Yes. We had the CV and axle lined up perfectly straight. Factory bolt bottomed out without touching the axle. On the second go around we reused the "new" bolt but didn't feel good about doing the unbelievably tight torque sequence. So it is currently set t 250 ft/lbs since that is the max my torque w3rench goes to. Was really hesitant to go that 180 degrees on an already stretched bolt. So my son is going to get another bolt and we will install that when he stops over again. Not sure if the bolt preloads the bearing or not but I feel uneasy about leaving it the way it is now

Don

Trav · Mar 20, 2026

Strange it didn't push it out, maybe the ring got jammed, I use one for an A4 that is 72mm long m16 the VW one is 70mm m16 so it should have done the job. Next time get a 100mm BOLT from bolt depot.
If you tried to reuse the original bolt there is a good chance it would break. When tightening it it feels super tight then once it gets close to 180 degrees you can feel it stretching.
Unless you are Hercules a 1/2 - 24" breaker bar is not cutting it, I use a 3/4 - 40" breaker bar, that will get you 90 degrees but for the other 90 you will probably need a steel pipe or long jack handle on the bar. You could also use a torque multiplier.

Dadillac · Mar 20, 2026

I just used the 1/2 inch torque wrench. It has an angle feature. It was slow going and very exhaustive to do. I pulled up on it using my legs and back

Don

Trav · Mar 20, 2026

Dadillac said:
I just used the 1/2 inch torque wrench. It has an angle feature. It was slow going and very exhaustive to do. I pulled up on it using my legs and back

Don

Did you get the 200 +180?

Dadillac · Mar 21, 2026

Trav said:
Did you get the 200 +180?

Sure did. And I have to do it again. Joy

Don

2020 VW GTI axle boot replacement

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