Second Hand Volkswagen Golf CV Joints

Yes, all Volkswagen Golfs have CV joints — they are a fundamental part of the front driveshafts on every front-wheel-drive Golf, and also appear on the rear driveshafts of 4Motion (four-wheel-drive) variants. Even the most basic petrol Golf uses CV joints to transfer drive from the gearbox to the front wheels while allowing the suspension to move. If you are looking for a CV joint for your Golf, you are in the right place.

The Mk7 and Mk8 Golf are built on related but updated versions of the MQB platform, and while there are similarities, the driveshaft and CV joint specifications changed between generations — you should not assume a Mk7 unit will drop straight onto a Mk8. Name the generation boundary to the breaker (Mk7 up to 2020, Mk8 from 2020) and confirm against your exact registration before purchasing. Never guarantee fitment across a generation change.

The Mk7.5 facelift in 2017 was primarily cosmetic and brought updated infotainment and lighting, but the fundamental suspension and driveshaft layout carried over from the pre-facelift Mk7. In most cases CV joints are shared across the Mk7 and Mk7.5, but confirm with the breaker against your registration as running gear can vary with engine choice across the model run. Quoting your reg to the breaker is the safest way to be sure.

Trim level alone does not affect CV joint fitment on the Golf — the S, SE, GT, and R-Line trims are cosmetic and equipment-level distinctions and do not change the driveshaft setup. What does matter is your engine size and whether your car is front-wheel drive or 4Motion, as higher-powered variants and 4WD models can use different driveshaft assemblies. Tell the breaker your engine size and drivetrain alongside your registration to get the right part.

Not necessarily — larger, more powerful engines can place greater demands on the drivetrain, and Volkswagen has used different driveshaft and CV joint specifications across engine variants within the same Golf generation. Always quote your exact engine size and output to the breaker, not just the generation, so they can match the correct unit. Assuming all engines in a generation share the same CV joint is a common mistake worth avoiding.

Yes, this matters — CV joints and driveshafts are handed, meaning the nearside (left, passenger side) and offside (right, driver side) are different parts and are not interchangeable. On many Golfs the two sides are also different lengths due to the position of the gearbox, so make sure you tell the breaker clearly which side you need. Getting the side wrong is one of the most common ordering errors with driveshaft components.