CV boot replacement on 2005 Skoda Octavia 2.0TDi. (VAG, VW, Audi)

Here is how I changed my split boot on my Octavia. It probably applies to all other VAG cars of a similar age.

It is fairly straightforward apart from removing the joint from the shaft without a CVJ removal tool. If you are removing the anti-roll bar joint then to stop it from rotating when you loosen the nut use a small spline tool or allen key in the hole in the end of the thread (hidden).

I improvised and used the main hub securing bolt to drive the shaft out of the joint.

I would allow about 4 hours if you haven’t done this job before. You will need a good range of sockets/spanners including 16/17/18/28mm. You will also need a 10mm spline tool for the inner driveshaft bolts and if you have a couple of 1/2″ socket long extensions then you can remove these bolts from the wheel arch. Either use an impact wrench or have an assistant hold the shaft still by pressing the brake pedal. Obviously you need to do this before removing the shaft from the hub.

The video shows the driveshaft horizontally in the vice. This is not how I removed the CVJ. I clamped the actual joint in the vice, not the shaft. It is easier to get a tight grip on its larger diameter so that it doesn’t rotate. I used a long 1/2″ breaker bar to tighten the bolt to push out the shaft. It was very tight!

Just for clarity, I think I made some comment about a new joint, it wasn’t, I reused the old joint which was OK as the boot had only just recently split.

UPDATE:
I have recently had to change the boot on the opposite driveshaft. I followed all of my previous steps except when I came to remove the joint from the shaft in the vice.

1. I pre-loaded the joint slightly using the main hub bolt and a small metal spacer.
2. Using a drift I sharply hit the inner part of the joint right next to the shaft.
3. After a couple of hits the splines could be seen and the joint was then gently tapped until it came off completely.
4. The C clip was not cut into by the splines as it was on the previous CV boot replacement.

If this works every time then it is a better method.