Front axles, can I replace or to the shop?
Thread Starter
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1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7
From: Asheville, NC
Front axles, can I replace or to the shop?
Hey folks,
New here. looks like a great site that i'll be visiting much more in the future. Anyhow, we have a 2001 A6 Avant Quattro. Need to replace the front axles, bad cv joints. I've done this in the past on my old 78 VW's(of course they were in the rear), but this audi is a bit more technical.
anyone know what all is involved. Hope to get into it this weekend but will have to order parts tomorrow. Any help/insite is greatly appreciated.
New here. looks like a great site that i'll be visiting much more in the future. Anyhow, we have a 2001 A6 Avant Quattro. Need to replace the front axles, bad cv joints. I've done this in the past on my old 78 VW's(of course they were in the rear), but this audi is a bit more technical.
anyone know what all is involved. Hope to get into it this weekend but will have to order parts tomorrow. Any help/insite is greatly appreciated.
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,161
From: Minnesota
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7
From: Asheville, NC
Well I got it done. A few notes for the next guy.....
At first I thought I got the wrong axles...the factory axels have a large shaft 1.5 in dia or so....my replacements had a 1in dia. Looked so different in proportions I was worried. The length was the same and I checked the manuf. web site for compatability. Just a half hour delay and concern that my weekend project was off to a bad start, but worked out just fine.
If you remove the shield covering the inner joint, you can remove/replace the axle w/o taking the pinch bolt out. At least on the driver side, I did the passenger side first and the pinch bolt detail was kind of a PIA. I was concerned I'd bend one of the control arms or mess something up freeing the control arms....but it did work. The driver side I just removed the shield covering the inner (6mm alen) and once disconected, swung the inner towards the front of the car and the outer had just enogh clearance to pop out of the wheel bearing housing. Front wheel (driver side) turned to far right, if I recall correctly, I think is also what made this possible. Reinstall was about the same.
On my model (01 A6 Avant Quattro) the bolts securing the inner joint to tranny were 10 mm-12 point. The Axel bolt for the wheel bearing housing to outer axle was 17 mm allen. Pinch bolt 16mm. I got my axles at Carquest (EMPI) $100 ea. If I had to do over I'd order Cardones online. The EMPI has a 12m 12k mile warranty. The Cardones were cheaper $80 ish and have a 3yr-36k mile. I also saw that some providers out there provide a new axle bolt w/ the shaft, tools etc(Raxels.com) would have been nice to replace the main bolt. So look around for the best packg deal.
I also could not torque to Bently specs on the Axel nut 133 ft-lbs + 180 deg (1/2 turn). I could get the 133 + about 1/8-1/4 turn but thats all the *** I had to put on it and felt I was going to break something. I'm going to ask my buddy who is a mechanic what he thinks and revisit if needed.
Most of all, I thank the folks here for the info and encouragement. It was quite easy as many expressed. And the best tip I got here that I will forward....rubber gloves and the oldest junk clothes you have. Three of the four old boots were broke open and the old grease was everywhere. Be safe and have fun!
At first I thought I got the wrong axles...the factory axels have a large shaft 1.5 in dia or so....my replacements had a 1in dia. Looked so different in proportions I was worried. The length was the same and I checked the manuf. web site for compatability. Just a half hour delay and concern that my weekend project was off to a bad start, but worked out just fine.
If you remove the shield covering the inner joint, you can remove/replace the axle w/o taking the pinch bolt out. At least on the driver side, I did the passenger side first and the pinch bolt detail was kind of a PIA. I was concerned I'd bend one of the control arms or mess something up freeing the control arms....but it did work. The driver side I just removed the shield covering the inner (6mm alen) and once disconected, swung the inner towards the front of the car and the outer had just enogh clearance to pop out of the wheel bearing housing. Front wheel (driver side) turned to far right, if I recall correctly, I think is also what made this possible. Reinstall was about the same.
On my model (01 A6 Avant Quattro) the bolts securing the inner joint to tranny were 10 mm-12 point. The Axel bolt for the wheel bearing housing to outer axle was 17 mm allen. Pinch bolt 16mm. I got my axles at Carquest (EMPI) $100 ea. If I had to do over I'd order Cardones online. The EMPI has a 12m 12k mile warranty. The Cardones were cheaper $80 ish and have a 3yr-36k mile. I also saw that some providers out there provide a new axle bolt w/ the shaft, tools etc(Raxels.com) would have been nice to replace the main bolt. So look around for the best packg deal.
I also could not torque to Bently specs on the Axel nut 133 ft-lbs + 180 deg (1/2 turn). I could get the 133 + about 1/8-1/4 turn but thats all the *** I had to put on it and felt I was going to break something. I'm going to ask my buddy who is a mechanic what he thinks and revisit if needed.
Most of all, I thank the folks here for the info and encouragement. It was quite easy as many expressed. And the best tip I got here that I will forward....rubber gloves and the oldest junk clothes you have. Three of the four old boots were broke open and the old grease was everywhere. Be safe and have fun!
2nd Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 772
From: Denver
jhmotorsports has a replacement axle replacement they claim exceeds the OEM qualifications. I think I am replacing both of mine just because the car has 100 000+ and I am COMPLETELY rebuilding the suspension and driveline in prep for tial s605 or s770 turbos.