Audi A3 Drive Shaft - Passenger Side

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Tue 9 Aug 2005 13:32
Audi A3 Drive Shaft - Passenger Side - Tmack
Hello

Recently my passenger side drive shaft went (forgive the lack of technical knowledge - it basically came loose and spun round with no drag to the actual wheel). This was replaced with a second hand part by my old man, but low and behold about 3 weeks later the exact same thing happened. Its now going to be replaced with a new part so hopefully everything will be fine, but does anyone know whether theres something else that might be causing this?

I am hoping its just a dodgy second part, but any advise greatly appreciated.

The car was involved in a head on collision some time ago
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Wed 10 Aug 2005 12:58
Audi A3 Drive Shaft - Passenger Side - adverse camber
what exactly came loose and what was replaced ?

Was the car properly repaired ? Is something out of alignment ?
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Wed 10 Aug 2005 13:28
Audi A3 Drive Shaft - Passenger Side - Tmack
I'm not exactly sure. I'll try and describe, the part where the drive shaft goes from the wheel to the main drive shaft remained still, while the part closer to the engine turned around on accelerating etc. A second hand passenger drive shaft was replaced.

I'd ask my Dad but hes on holiday at minute...just wondered if generally anyone knew anything that might cause a drive shaft to do such a thing...though guess my explanation isn't the best.

I'm more than sure it was fitted properly as my Dad has been a mechanic for some 30 years though.
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Wed 10 Aug 2005 22:17
Audi A3 Drive Shaft - Passenger Side - Ian D
Sounds like a CV (constant velocity) joint failure. If the one fitted was worn then it could fail in the same way as the original, especially if your car is one of the torquey 140 bhp diesels or a higher power turbo petrol.

Normally CV joints wear and start clicking on full lock, but they can fail as well. If a good new one is fitted made by one of the main driveshaft/CV companies (GKN for example) all should be well.

Ian
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Mon 15 Aug 2005 13:40
Audi A3 Drive Shaft - Passenger Side - Tmack
thanks for that I'll have a chat with my Dad and see what he says.

I've spoken to my old man about exactly whats happening, he says whats actually happened is that the ball bearings are being spat out from the universal joint where the drive shaft joins the gear box..after speaking to a friend at Audi, he said he's only really heard of this happening when A3s have been on hard lock and accelerated away fast...thought I've only ever been partly turned and though I'm not slow I don't rag the car to pieces.

The car is a 1.6 Audi SE btw...
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Mon 15 Aug 2005 23:06
Audi A3 Drive Shaft - Passenger Side - JohnM{P}
My personal experience of changing cv and universal joints may be old and limited to Minis and Imps (still have the scars to prove it!), but the inner universal joint should only be handling the vertical movement of the drive shaft (it's the cv joint at the wheel end of the drive shaft that has to handle the steering lock as well). Is there wear in the front suspension that is allowing a significant forward/aft movement of the wheel?
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Tue 16 Aug 2005 10:19
Audi A3 Drive Shaft - Passenger Side - Tmack
My dad has checked and theres no wear in the front suspension...He was thinking that there might be something wrong with the gear box or engine mountings but these seem to be fine....
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