So I'm replacing struts and tie rod links, and I let my passenger wheel flop out (for lack of a better term). Now the spindle is kind of stuck and I can't get it back in place to put the struts back in. The boots on the axle look stretched out like whatever's inside them got pulled apart like it elongated the axle. Is that something that happens, or what am I looking at here? The steering should be pointed fairly straight, but the passenger spindle looks like it's turned hard right, plus hanging down.. aka flopped out. I can lift the spindle up with a jack, but I can't point it straight. Any advice?

 

Nevermind, I found some other posts about the same thing, so I'm pretty sure that's exactly what I'm looking at... advice seems to be to remove the axle and try to put it back together, probably take the boots off, etc.. also to support the wheel better next time.. I don't have an impact gun to work on the axle though, so that sucks. I'm so mad, I spent days rebuilding the strut assemblies just right.. One of the strut mount bolts was spinning, so I had to literally angle grinder the bolt in half with the nut still on it. This job has been a nightmare. Meh!

 

I've had good luck re-seating a CV joint by standing the axle on end, feeling around for it to "kind of seat", and then giving it a sharp rap with a mallet. Removing the boot is always an option, but be prepared to buy the new bands and the tool to install them.

 

I took the whole knuckle apart and put it back together, and I guess I got lucky, because once I got the axle unkinked it now rotates and feels right. Didn't have to unmount the axle or touch the boots. Although I think I cut the outer tie rod end boot in the process, so that's nice. Add it to the pile.