Cold fusion?

[Fred Munro]

Yes, these really hold on tight, don't they!

Fear not, I can tell you how to get it off, although I do hesitate to reveal
the info since the method is not 100% guaranteed harmless to your precious
Audi components. I just went through this with the right side rear shaft on
my UrS. It is, however, much less potentially harmful than a loose
driveshaft flailing around under the car :o)

I assume you have tried all the typical non-destructive methods including
cleaning the joint, soaking it with your favourite penetrant, etc.

All has failed.

Now it's time for the hammer. The BIG hammer. The AIR HAMMER!!!

Yup, get out your air hammer (you DO have one, don't you?) and fit a
broad-faced punch. Work around the CV joint body giving it a very short shot
in each spot. Make sure you rotate the shaft and keep the duration short at
any one spot, because there is a CAVEAT!

A big CAVEAT.

There's a bearing on the end of that diff shaft. Bearings don't like severe
vibration in the radial direction when they are stationary - it tends to
dimple the races. Ball bearings are the most sensitive, tapered roller
bearings are the least sensitive. If you overdo it with the air hammer, you
may be looking at a bearing failure down the road.

The joint will come off. I had to go around mine twice. I really don't like
using an air hammer on a shaft with a bearing on it, but in my case it was a
tapered roller bearing and the joint just wasn't going to come off any other
way. Just make sure you hammer the CV and not the flange, or you will rivet
the flange to the CV, kind of the opposite effect to what you are trying to
achieve.

Once you get it off, you will be astounded at how narrow that flange really
is.

HTH

Fred Munro
'94 S4




-----Original Message-----
From: quattro-admin at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-admin at audifans.com]On
Behalf Of Tihol Tiholov
Sent: September 2, 2003 2:01 PM
To: quattro at audifans.com
Subject: Cold fusion?


Haudi all,
The patient, 1988 90 Q, has a mighty strong bond between the rear propshaft
CV joint and the front flange on the rear diff.  The 15-year closeness seems
unbreakable.  BFH, 3-tonne jack on the CV (lifts whole car) and even
much-less-than-smooth driving up and down steep slopes with loose CV bolts
couldn't part the 2 pieces.  Any ideas on separating these 2 would be
immensly appreciated.

TIA,
Tihol

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