GOBOGO: it does take some work to do but if you set the bearings in place, and set the cap on, you have to sort of pull up on the assembly and the cv boot where it attaches to the bearing side of the axel, and they will sort of "fall" into place. Stand them on the end that goes into the wheels hub, so that the bearing side is up, as the pic is. I put my palms on the end(in red) that the cv boot attaches to, and my fingers on the end (in blue)that attaches back to tranny shaft, and work it up and down, you will notice when they get into place. Then it will be flexible again. I do know what your talking about as when I rebuilt mine, I had that happen to me. It was solid and wouldnt flex.
