<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color=black size=3>Does anyone have experience with driveshafts or propeller shafts with A4's? I have a 97 that is making a knocking sound. The dealer said it was shot and would cost $1400 to replace. Is this true or can you just replace a CV joint or two? The car has only 115,000 miles. Is it hard to buy 2nd hand driveshafts? Any online suggestions?</FONT></P>

 

you can replace single CV joints, sure. A bad CV joint will make more of a clicking sound that a knocking sound.

When exactly do you get the knock? all the time? when you turn? hit the brakes?

 

I was getting the noise when I was accelerating from 1st through 2nd. For whatever reason I haven't heard it as badfor thelast week. I keep thinking it will just fail though.

 

One way of looking at it:</P>


Better to repair something that has not catastrophically failed then to be stranded with your prop-shaft holding up traffic (after a big truck drives over it). The latter will likely cost MUCH more than getting it fixed now. And if this does happen it'll likely damage more than just the shaft as it lets loose and flops around....</P>


I'd not go to the dealer unless no one else could fix my car. Talk to some independent Audi specialists, and get some quotes from them, including some wrecking yards for a drive shaft (or a good rebuilder).</P>


Best of luck,</P>


Gary</P>