95 A6 Driveshaft rattle

[john at westcoastgarage.net]

urq wrote:
> I'll second Tony's BTDT ... I've dealt with 6 quattros in total, with total
> mileages pushing say 800K miles (conservatively) ... never needed to replace
> a CVJ in the propshaft.  Now center u-joints and carrier bearings, sure.  Be
> sure the play you're noticing is between the drive shaft and the flange on
> the rear diff ... I'll be the play you see is actually inside the rear diff.
>
>
> I too have heard a bit of a clang and slight play as you switch the
> direction of torque ... but that isn't something that will be happening as
> long as the engine is driving power to the wheels.  
>
> Of course if you find nothing else, it isn't going to hurt anything to
> replace the CVJ ... just be careful to keep the propshaft in as close to a
> straight line as possible ... Bentley for the older cars warns against
> allowing the center joint from straying far from straight ... but I don't
> remember a spec on angle deviation ... 
>
> Steve B
> San Jose, CA (USA)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: quattro-bounces at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-bounces at audifans.com] On
> Behalf Of Tony Hoffman
> Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 9:57 AM
> To: beattyr2003 at cox.net
> Cc: v6-12v at audifans.com; quattro at audifans.com
> Subject: Re: 95 A6 Driveshaft rattle
>
> That is exactly what you do. There are usually six bolts that hold the
> rear of the driveshaft to the rear differential. Pull them, and pry
> the driveshaft from the rearend. Then, pull and replace the rear CV
> joint. I'd probably do the boot, while you are in there. The CV should
> be held on with some sort of spring clip, although I'll have to
> confess to never replacing the Joint on a Quattro that new.
>
> Tony
>
>
>
> On Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 7:05 AM,  <beattyr2003 at cox.net> wrote:
>   
>> 1995 A6 with 260k miles.
>>
>> Getting a rattle from under the car and after a bunch of poking around,
>>     
> finally figured out that there is play in the main driveshaft where it
> attaches to the rear diff.  When rotating the driveshaft it will rotate a
> bit before the rear diff starts to move.  So I am thinking the rear U-joint
> (or CV joint?) is bad and needs to be replaced.  When I was under the car, I
> didn't get the impression the rear was removable from the driveshaft, but
> there are repair kits out there.  So does that mean you disconnect the shaft
> from the diff and replace that section of the joint?
>   
>> Anyone got any BTDT on this?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Rob
>>     
> _______________________________________________
>
>   
I just replaced the driveshaft on a 99 BMW 528it because it had a 
noticeable rattle  I put in drive with some drag from the hand brake and 
the rattle was there, big time.  As the driveshafts are remarkably 
similar between the makes, I would guess the problems would be, too.  I 
dunno whether the noise you hear is like the one I just fixed, but at 
least there's some experience telling us the CV joint can be bad, and it 
can be replaced.  The driveshaft CV joint is available from Worldpac, 
but not the boot.  893 521 100.  It fits a buncha Audis.  John
>
>