I did take inner joint out so I can slide boots over. I'm talking about outer joint that still attached to the hub. You will have it all open, but you won't be able to actually take all balls out and clean/dry all pieces. If it's not contaminated and you caugt it early then you fine. Just wipe as much as you can with clean towels, pack with fresh grease and thats all.

Speaking of grease :) - no, this was "virgin" axle. Nobody touched it from a factory.

OK, I am just going to get both greases from auto parts store.

Is the list of tools needed accurate in the DIY too?

You don't need puller and 36mm socket.

AutoZone only had a tiny tube of white lithium grease, they also didn't think that would be the right application for universal or constant velocity joints. The packaging made no mention of cv joints.

I ended up picking up the 1lb tub of Coastal Unixplex High Temperature Grease which is suitable for joints. It has 500F dropping point, and was the same price as the standard Moly. On the side it says it is made of "complex lithium grease" or something so I think it will do the job.

Anyway, I will see whats in mine when I pull the inner boot :)

umm i forgot i dont have 3lb+ hammer, will standard claw hammer or the air hammer on my compressor do? Do i need this with the shortcut anyway?

I used my air hammer to knock inner part of axle out. Remove clip first.

cool, one less thing to buy. I had to go get the hex socket set, thats somthing that just seems to keep coming up on this car. The germans sure like their hex lol :)

will you have enough clearance to tighten the bolts when the car is on the ground? or it requires a lift(4 posts one which lift on the wheels) to accomplish it?

I made a puller by turing an old break rotor around and using a the type of puller that has 3 fingers with slots. I put the old rotor over the studs for the lug nuts and then bolted the puller to 3 of the studs with the lug nuts and then screwed in the puller screw bolt to the center of the axel. I think this is better than a gear puller if you have an old rotor. If you loosen the 36 mm hex nut before you jack the car off of the ground it is easier....you don;t need a second person to push on the brakes. good luck.

I had enough clearance when car was on my scissor lift ramps (3 inches) - I'm sure it could be fine on a ground