Changing rubber boot on driveshaft

[trickydicky]

have just spent the day changing my rubber boot on the end of the driveshaft the hard way!
removed wheel brake caliper disc and drive knuckle complete with bearings.
Had great fun removing top knuckle balljoint as bolts sheared!
Bottom one was even better as one nut sheared off and large castlelated nut with split pin wouldnt budge even when blow torch tried to persuade it.
tierod end outer ball joint got in on the act as well.
So I thought sod it and took a grinder to the lot and replaced them with new.
So job is done hands are ingrained with a nice layer of grease for next two weeks and job is nearly done..........
notice I say nearly as Ive come to fit the circlip on the end of driveshaft and cant get it to poke out far enough to get clip in groove!!
Ive preloaded the bearing as much as I dare but still cant quite get to circlip groove if you get my drift.
Car is jacked up on axle stands so was wondering if I should lower it onto wheels to load the suspension and ball joints and line up drive shaft, will this give me enough to slip circlip into groove?
What do you think guys?
Car is 3.0 litre lwb 2003 with permanant locked hubs

 

[makeitfit]

No dont drop it, you should be able to locate the shaft by hand. Chances are you've pushed it in too far. Try rotating it and pulling it out at the same time. It works on my 2.7 but no idea if it'll help you

 

[R1cho]

yep what he said, i had same prob when did ball joints but if u have a good tug :naughty: on the shaft and turn hub it should pop back out enough for circlip to go back on

 

[rustic]

When changing the brake disk, I made the mistake of pushing in the drive shaft slightly, and I couldn't get the circlip back on.

The solution is grab the shaft from the inside of the hub and rotate and push very hard and it does go back in.

Make sure the vehicle is on axle stands though.

Don't overload the preload on the bearing.

 

[trickydicky]

Well today went better! Did as you all said didnt drop it but popped the ball joints off again took hub off and put it back on again this time it went in better (the drive shaft) and was able to put circlip in noproblem. Job done.
Been for test drive down M6, 85 mph no judder and wheel didnt fall off either.
Reckon Im ok but next week will tell as shes up for MOT but Im confident in a positive outcome!
Thanks for help guys owe you all again