[s-cars] Vibration from right wheel when backing up?

[Fred Munro]

Vibration in reverse isn't a "feature" of the Audi axle shaft, it's a
feature of a mucked up CV joint. You have to disassemble the CV joint to get
the boots on, and this means that:
1). you have to keep it clean during the process
2). you have to know how to put it back together
3). you have to repack it with the proper CV joint grease.

Sounds like your tech may have missed a step (or two) and wants you to buy
new axles that come pre-assembled to avoid the necessity of going through
the above three steps.

An axle shaft doesn't get "shot" unless it gets bent in an accident or fails
to terminal corrosion. The CV joints can fail and can be replaced
individually. Audi CV joints will last a very long time if you keep the
boots intact, the joints clean and greased, and don't do frequent 4 wheel
burnouts with a Hapersized engine.

Sounds like the tech may have fouled up during the boot replacement and now
the CV joints have gone south. Perhaps a second opinion at a different shop
is in order.

Did they by any chance drop the control arms to remove the axle? You don't
have to do this, but if they did maybe they didn't get the ball joint seated
right or the stabilizer bar bushing installed properly.

HTH

Fred Munro
'94 S4 (I'm covered in CV joint grease to my wrists and my wife reads the
fine print on the grease tube.. "It says here to avoid contact with
skin...."
'97 S6

-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com
[mailto:s-car-list-bounces at audifans.com]On Behalf Of Brian DeWyngaert Jr
Sent: May 2, 2006 4:41 PM
To: audifans
Subject: [s-cars] Vibration from right wheel when backing up?


S-heads, I sent my vehicle in the shop to have them help diagnose an
issue that started after they performed the replacements of both my
outer CV boots.  The issue is that in reverse if i turn the wheel to
the right more then half way to lock, i begin get a shuddering that
seems to source from the right side of the car.  Tech called me back
today and said the axle shaft was shot and needed to be replaced.  To
which he said that the OE part would cost him round $530, he said he
had found one Aftermarket part the was close to $385 for the left side
and he stated he could not find a replacement part (save for the OE
one) for the right side, and that since the part was rare so I didnt
have alot of options for sources.

Does this diagnostic sound reasonable to you or could this be
something else.  Again the shuddering is only noticed in reverse,
which the tech claimed is a "feature" of audi axle shafts.
The tech is also saying that he is noticing slight vibration if the
wheel is turned to the left.  I dont recall feeling anything but I
will have to test it out tonight.  I just find it odd that not long
after they replace my outer CV boots that this begins to occur.

Cheers,
Brian
94S4 NoVa
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