I almost went into a rant in another thread, so I figured I'd post one of my own, get this off my chest, and then go back to being pissed first time I hit a slick spot on the road...

My car recently has ceased to be quattro, I pulled a code a month ago for a mechanical malfunction within the haldex unit, cleared the code, and was ok for a while. now the car is FWD, but I haven't bothered checking the codes again.

When I last changed the haldex oil I noticed it was much darker than previous changings, and there was a bit more sediment that drained out.

Started looking for a replacement.... Shokan is pissing me off... Asked for a quote, said, 'haldex unit, NOT haldex controller, I need the clutch unit'

Heres how the emails have transpired.

[shokan]
What is the clutch unit? The car has a regular clutch on the transmission.
It has a haldex rear differential with a haldex controller, and cargo pump. There is no clutches back there. Do you have a part number for what you need? [theres no part number for a complete Haldex LSC that I can find]

[me]
There is a clutch pack within the haldex unit, this is what applies/disengages power to the rear wheels.I do needthe haldex unit for the rear end, but not the electronic haldex controller. I can't find a part number for the entire haldex unit,haldex rear differential with haldex controller is the description in ETKA though.

[shokan]
Here is what we sell for those.
The haldex contoller is $ 385 and the rear differential $ 725 without the Haldex controller on it.
Those are the two ways we sell it.
The leak pump is $ 135

[me outloud to my computer screen]
WTF? Thats pricing everything AROUND the part I need, but not actually the haldex unit!
[me to shokan]
It does NOT have a Haldex rear diff, it has a Haldex limited slip coupling bolted to a diff. All I need is the LSC, my rear diff and my Haldex controller are both fine. You won't sell the unit w/o a diff attached?


I know the answer is gonna be 'no'.... I might just wait it out until spring, and do some hardcore junkyarding for a wrecked TT or R32 or something... Go find a AEB head too, I need to start planning ahead before those things get any more expensive or hard to find.

 

Have you been changing the haldex filter when you change the fluid? I know the fluid should be changed every 20k and the filter should be changed every 40k. If you don't change the filter it can cause some serious issues with the haldex unit engaging.
As for getting the rear diff, there isn't any instructions on ELSA web on how to take that apart so you would have to buy the entire diff if needed.

 

wheres a good place to order the haladex fluid and filter **** while im bleeding the brakes...changing the clutch...adding new power steering fluid...doing wheel bearings i mine as well do the haladex fluid too my my this is gonna be a huge project to accomplish in under 3 days

 

I do fluid and filter every 20K miles. Can't speak for the previous owner(s) though, and I bought the car with 109,000 miles on it.

Cheapest I've found is ecstuning.com, the kit has fluid, filter, and replacement drainplug, which is nice. You'll need a special wrench to get the filter loose though, ecs also sells that, dunno how much, I have something different called the 'H-wrench' which is sold by Steve at the modshack (modshack.info). If you get the H-wrench, lemme know what the serial number is on it, I'm curious how many he's sold. Mine is s/n 18, pre-modshack.

 

Oh yeah, as for seperating the diff, as far as I can tell, its its own entity mated between the propeller shaft, and the diff. I MAY need to find specs on setting up thrust washers, but I can't see why it would get any harder than that if I'm doing a simple swap, but then, I'm a shadetree mechanic, not a tech, maybe I'm getting in over my head.

Rebuilding the LSC I'd be a little worried about, but I think I have the correct part number for the clutch pack if it gets to that point. Still would need a crapload of seals and washers though, may need to call haldex directly for help, but I'd really hate to go that far.