Changed the fronts springs on my mk1 vrs today, near side went smoothly but when I took the strut out if the offside, the hub fell forward and the driveshaft had popped out, the shaft what's goes into the gator behind the hub had separated from the hub

I have lines the splines on shaft up with the hub and it pushes back in no problem but when you lock to lock the steering then the driveshaft pops back out again

Any ideas what's gone wrong? Tia

Is the hub nut missing or something? This does not sound right... Coilovered my suspension last summer and there was no reason why the driveshaft would come out of the hub.

The castle nut? If so it's on and very tight

Can you take a photo? If the hub nut is on (12 sided jobby) the driveshaft should be held in the hub by the bearing.

If you find you need a whole drivers side driveshaft I have one spare going cheap.  It sounds like the shaft has fallen in half if the hub nut is still done up, but something is still popping out.  

Can't take a photo until tomorrow when I go back to the car, yes the hub nut is on but the driveshaft isn't :/

If you find you need a whole drivers side driveshaft I have one spare going cheap. It sounds like the shaft has fallen in half if the hub nut is still done up, but something is still popping out.

How much and where are you, just in case lol

I looked on the end of the driveshaft and it looked fine, no sign that it had steered off or anything

How much and where are you, just in case lol

 

Not sure if the CVs just "come undone" ??

 

I am in Devon, not far off the end of the M5.  Posting a driveshaft is dirt cheap anyway.

Cvs come undone? How could I check? (I don't know where to look)

Also I'm in leeds so a bit far haha

Sounds like the circlip has either come off the end of the drive shaft spline and is in the cv joint still, or it broke up as the shaft popped out.

 

Would I be correct in assuming that the cv is staying in the hub, and the central shaft with the spline is popping out of the joint?.

Here's a pic showing how that end should look (and be attached )

 

Curious to know where yours has come apart.  That thread on the end is what the hub nut is holding.

 

Sounds like the circlip has either come off the end of the drive shaft spline and is in the cv joint still, or it broke up as the shaft popped out.

Would I be correct in assuming that the cv is staying in the hub, and the central shaft with the spline is popping out of the joint?.

The 2nd part of your post is what's happening

Here's a pic showing how that end should look (and be attached )

Curious to know where yours has come apart. That thread on the end is what the hub nut is holding.

It's sort of come apart about 2-3" into the cv is clipped, I think

If a bust CV then could be easier to replace whole shaft,  The one I have is 115k miles good order and posted to your door for £20

This may help so you can see what you have or have not got.   http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/octavia-mk1/chassis/front_suspension_drive_shafts/repairing_drive_shaft/

If a bust CV then could be easier to replace whole shaft, The one I have is 115k miles good order and posted to your door for £20

Thanks but only problem is if I need one I will need it tmoz for work Monday morning :/

This may help so you can see what you have or have not got. http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/octavia-mk1/chassis/front_suspension_drive_shafts/repairing_drive_shaft/

That link isn't working on my phone

Link appears to work for me, can anyone else try it and let me know please.

Tried a few times but nothing happens

Sorted it, just having a look at it now

After a lot of ****ing about and many, many swear words said we got the car sorted, it was a matter of getting the shaft lined up properly and pushed in firmly, done about 5 miles in it so far and no problems

*touch wood*

I'd be scared of doing any full lock cornering

Just to share my awful experience: 6 months ago I removed the front shafts for cleaning and lubricating. I installed new bolts that came with the new boots. Last week, while trying to exit the garage, I heard a weird cracking noise, as if sth was breaking down there. The inner cv bolts had slowly come out until the last one broke. WTF, I am sure I had tightened the bolts when installing, had I????The shaft started spinning in the air, braking the heat shield. Luckily I was with almost zero mph, or else you can imagine what would have happened down there. Anyway, I fixed the shaft using the old bolts, which proved to be slightly different than the new ones (longer). 

Just keep in mind, proper bolts and tightening.

I'd be scared of doing any full lock cornering

I've tested that round a roundabout haha just driven 20miles and ok

Just to share my awful experience: 6 months ago I removed the front shafts for cleaning and lubricating. I installed new bolts that came with the new boots. Last week, while trying to exit the garage, I heard a weird cracking noise, as if sth was breaking down there. The inner cv bolts had slowly come out until the last one broke. WTF, I am sure I had tightened the bolts when installing, had I????The shaft started spinning in the air, braking the heat shield. Luckily I was with almost zero mph, or else you can imagine what would have happened down there. Anyway, I fixed the shaft using the old bolts, which proved to be slightly different than the new ones (longer).

Just keep in mind, proper bolts and tightening.

I used old bolts with no torque wrench...

I'm a bit of a pikey