axle on Passat

I've got the 6 bolts out of the differential flange on the driver's side
cv joint (96 passat glx, 01M auto trans.) but the bugger won't separate.
I think it's rusted on. I've tapped it a bit with a sledge, but I'm a
little nervous about whacking too hard because I don't want to damage
the axle or CV.

Any tricks to getting it off of the flange? Just haul off and give it a
good slug?

On Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:13:44 -0500, starburst <nope (AT) nospam (DOT) net> wrote:

I've got the 6 bolts out of the differential flange on the driver's side
cv joint (96 passat glx, 01M auto trans.) but the bugger won't separate.
I think it's rusted on. I've tapped it a bit with a sledge, but I'm a
little nervous about whacking too hard because I don't want to damage
the axle or CV.

Any tricks to getting it off of the flange? Just haul off and give it a
good slug?
replace two bolts across from each other enough so when it releases the cvj

& axle stays in place and things don't get dirty, Whack the cvj with a
dead blow hammer , or a block of wood and a sledge.
I put plastic bags over both the diff. flange and the cvj and fasten with a
plastic wire tie zip strip. Keeps both you and it cleaner.