Update:

I ended up cutting the axle with a harbor freight angle grinder. Took all of 3 minutes to chop in half.

I haven't checked out what actually happened to the joint but it was pretty much frozen upon removal. Weird thing is the boots and grease look fresh so perhaps the PO ran the inner joint dry and then put a new boot on it or something.

For those saying this should have given plenty of warning I agree. I've had CV joints go on VWs and they do give plenty of warning. This one did not however and suddenly locked up/failed.

Only thing I had trouble with was the bolt that holds it to the wheel hub. The new axle did not accept the larger bolt that came out of the old one. The new bolt supplied in the kit was much too short to work. I had to purchase a new M8 x 100mm long bolt at the hardware store.


Heres a pic of the old axle. Going to save the boots off it since they look new.