prop shaft alignment question

[Fred Munro]

Hi DeWitt

The fabled Audi alignment tool is straight in both planes (vertical and
horizontal).

The rubber centre bearing mounts tend to sag with age, so re-aligning an old
shaft may require changing the original spacers. Make sure you get the
fore-and-aft spacing right if you didn't mark the original mount position.
Move the shaft forward as far as it will go; mark the mount position. Move
it back as far as it will go; make another mark. Install the mount mid-way
between both marks.

Fred Munro
'94 S4


-----Original Message-----
From: quattro-bounces at audifans.com
[mailto:quattro-bounces at audifans.com]On Behalf Of DeWitt Harrison
Sent: September 1, 2005 10:51 AM
To: Quattro List
Subject: prop shaft alignment question


I had the drive shaft out of my 5kcstq to replace motor
and transmission mounts. I didn't closely inspect the
alignment of the front and rear halves of the shaft before
doing so but I vaguely recall that the shaft seemed to droop
in the middle.

After reinstall, working from the assumption that the
shaft should be perfectly in line, I adjusted the thickness
of the spacers that sit between the drive shaft center bearing
and the body accordingly. I ended up with 0 mm (no
spacers) from the original 10 mm spacers.

The driveshaft is definitely straight but is that what I want?
Although straight, the center bearing does sit a little low
within its rubber support. Almost every 5kq drive shaft I
have looked at since seems to droop in the center.
My car is not drivable so I can't just try it out.
Is the fabled Audi alignment tool straight? Or does it
intentionally introduce a bit of droop into the system?

The guys at the shop say they always just reinstall the
original spacers after any work and there's never a
problem.

Once again confused in Boulder.

DeWitt Harrison
'88 5kcstq
_______________________________________________
quattro mailing list
quattro at audifans.com
http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro