Drive shafts
Usually there are no problems with drive shafts. Their durability depends, of course, on the driving style of the car. Starting with the accelerator pedal fully depressed and the front wheels turned and starting with the front wheels turning will result in a premature defect.
- In the joints of the drive shafts, defects often suddenly appear, which then completely disappear. «rest period» can stretch up to several days and kilometers traveled.
- When applying gas and shifting gears, rhythmic beating or clicking sounds are characteristic. If these sounds still change depending on the turn of the steering wheel, then there is probably a defect in the hinge on the side of the wheel.
- Vibration and trembling of the steering wheel when the wheels are turned also indicate a damaged outer joint.
You need a new hex bolt for the driveshaft on the outside of the wheel hub as it stretches when tightened and should therefore not be re-installed for safety reasons. Then a new gasket for the inner shaft joint (only in vehicles with four-cylinder engine and manual transmission).
1. Remove the wheel cap or center cap from light metal rims.
2. Loosen the wheel bolts.
3. Loosen the hex bolt on the wheel hub; To do this, the Audi must be securely on the ground.
4. Raise the front of the vehicle and secure.
5. Remove the wheel.
6. If necessary, remove the driveshaft cover from the gearbox.
7. Remove the wire to the ABS speed sensor from the bracket, slightly pull back the speed sensor.
8. Unscrew the bolts of the shafts with the internal multi-toothed head on the gearbox.
9. Press the cardan shaft away from the flange on the drive side of the gearbox.
10. To remove the shaft, turn the steering wheel accordingly.
11. Installation: put a new gasket on the inner hinge (only in vehicles with four-cylinder engine and manual transmission). To do this, remove the protective film from the gasket.
12. Insert the drive shaft from the wheel side first. Then cross-tighten the mounting bolts on the flange of the drive shaft on the transmission side (bolts M8: 40 Nm; bolts M10: 77 Nm). Don't forget the spacers in the homokinetic hinges!
13. Lower the car, block the wheels. Tighten the new axle hub bolt as shown below:
14. Bolt M14: tighten 115 Nm and then another 1/4 turn (90°).
15. Bolt M16: tighten 190 Nm and then another 1/4 turn (90°).
16. Push the ABS speed sensor back in manually until it stops.
Tip: Audi describes the removal of the shaft after removing the tie rod and both axle joint bearings. But the dismantling of the drive shaft can be carried out by us - as described above - without unscrewing the wheel bearing housing (common name «rounded fist»).
The arrow points to the central bolt of the outer joint, which must be removed when dismantling the drive shafts.
The inner joint is removed from the gearbox after loosening the six bolts with internal multi-gear heads (arrows). Shown here is a hinge type «tripod» on an automatic transmission.
Removing the quattro rear drive shaft
To assemble you need a new hex head combination bolt for the driveshaft on the outside of the wheel hub. For safety reasons, the old bolt must not be reused. In addition, you need a new gasket for the inner shaft joint, a washer and a self-locking nut for attaching the axle arm to the top, and a self-locking nut for the stabilizer link rod.
1. Remove the wheel cap or light metal rim lining in the middle.
2. Loosen the wheel bolts.
3. Loosen the hex wheel bolt in the wheel hub; To do this, the Audi must be securely on the ground.
4. Raise and secure the rear of the vehicle.
5. Remove the wheel.
6. To dismantle the left drive shaft, remove the intermediate muffler of the exhaust system (chapter exhaust system).
7. Unscrew the multi-toothed shaft bolts on the rear axle differential.
8. Move the ABS speed sensor back slightly.
9. Disconnect the stabilizer connecting rod mounting bolt from the wheel bearing housing (rounded fist).
10. Unscrew the axle arm at the top from the wheel bearing housing (rounded fist).
11. Press the drive shaft away from the drive flange on the gearbox.
12. Remove the shaft.
13. Installation: put a new gasket on the inner hinge. To do this, remove the protective film on the gasket.
14. Install the driveshaft at the wheel side first. Then cross-tighten the mounting bolts on the flange of the drive shaft on the transmission side (40 Nm). Don't Forget Backing Plates
15. Mount the axle suspension again. First screw in the screw connection between the wheel bearing housing and the axle arm by hand. Tighten the stabilizer connecting rod nut to 50 Nm.
16. Mount the exhaust system again.
17. Lower the car. Block the wheels.
18. Tighten the new axle hub bolt as follows: tighten to 115 Nm and then tighten another 1/4 turn (90°).
19. Finally tighten the screw connection of the wheel bearing housing / axle arm with the vehicle stationary: 70 Nm and then another 1/4 turn (90°).
20. Push the ABS speed sensor back in by hand.
Tips: Do not drive vehicles with the driveshaft removed, otherwise the wheel bearing will be damaged. As a last resort, install only the outer hinge.
Depending on the model of engine and gearbox, different drive shafts are installed in Audi. When purchasing a new part, have the engine and vehicle identification numbers with you.
Removing the outer hinge
For all models
- 1 - retaining ring;
- 2 - remote washer;
- 3 - disc spring.
1. Remove the drive shaft.
2. On a working cuff, bend the large hose clamp, slide the protective sheath.
3. If the cuff is damaged, replace it completely.
4. With an aluminum or synthetic hammer, hit the hinge hard from the inside and thus remove it from the shaft.
5. Before installing a new joint, insert a new retaining ring into the groove of the drive shaft.
6. Install the Belleville spring and spacer - if installed on this version of the drive shaft - as shown in the illustration above. Do not forget to put a rubber cuff.
7. When installing, hammer the hinge onto the shaft with a synthetic hammer so that the retaining ring fits into the groove.
8. Lubricate the joint: 90 g of MoS2 grease is pressed into the new joint with an outer diameter of 89 mm (VW G6), of which 40 g in the hinge and 50 g in the cuff.
9. More grease is put into 98 mm outer diameter joints: 120 g of MoS2 grease (VW G6) distributed as follows: 80 g in the hinge and 40 g in the cuff.
10. In used joints, grease is only added.
11. Firmly tighten the cuff clips.
Removing the inner hinge
Homokinetic hinges
- 1 - retaining ring;
- 2 - internal homokinetic hinge;
- 3 - drive shaft.
1. Remove the drive shaft.
2. With patience, use two narrow screwdrivers to pry out of the groove on the end of the shaft the retaining ring that holds the hinge to the drive shaft.
3. Now remove the drive joint from the shaft; in a pinch, lightly help yourself with a plastic or aluminum mallet.
4. If the hinge cannot be removed in this way, then it must be pressed off the shaft in the workshop using a repair press.
5. Install the collar first when installing.
6. In the version with belleville spring, slide the belleville spring onto the shaft before mounting the joint or check its position: it must be convex to the joint at the outer edge.
7. Slide the hinge onto the shaft, install the retaining ring.
8. In this way, the retaining ring will not move into the groove. Therefore, clamp the drive shaft in a vise, put a large screwdriver or a piece of pipe on the inside of the hinge and hit the screwdriver hard with a hammer.
9. Counteracting the force of the belleville spring, the hinge will move back a little - the retaining ring will be able to jump into the groove.
10. Lubricate the joint: a new joint with an outer diameter of 100 mm is pressed with 80 g of MoS2 grease (VW G6), of which 30 g in the hinge and 50 g in the cuff.
11. More grease goes to 108mm OD pivot: 120g MoS2 grease (VW G6) distributed as follows: 35 g in the hinge and 85 g in the cuff.
12. Only add grease to used joints.
13. Before screwing the hinge (or flange cuff) lubricate the sealing surface between the cuff flange and the hinge with VW D3 sealant.
Removing the inner hinge
Hinges type «tripod»
hinge type «tripod» (1) not removed from the drive shaft. The situation is different with homokinetic joints, here directly from the drive shaft (3) remove outer hinge (2) and inner hinge (4).
1.Hinges type «tripod» not removed from the drive shaft. They are sold as spare parts complete with shaft and protective collar. Therefore, when replacing, dismantle only the outer joint and replace the shaft with the inner joint.
2. If only the protective cuff of the tripod is defective, then the outer hinge of the shaft is dismantled. In this case, the cuff can be advanced along the cleaned drive shaft to the tripod. Critical position: the cuff must be carefully lifted over the convex part in the middle of the shaft. To do this, lubricate the bulge and lift the cuff over the bulge with a blunt round instrument (spoon handle).
3. The joint is filled with 140 g of grease G 000 605. When replacing the cuff in used joints, add grease.
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