[s-cars] Driveline chatter-not fixed

[Sam Clarkson]

I had this....
The front  CV joint in the driveshaft is worn, under accelerative  
load it locks up slightly causing the driveshaft to not run true thus  
the center bearing complains, which is what you are hearing. Under  
cruising conditions the CV works fine and all is well.


Sam Clarkson
93 S4

Well-

Mark Pollen kindly let me use his new Boge motor mounts  Installed
them with no problem and unfortunately the chatter got louder.

Now it sounds like metal hitting metal and it seems to be near the
rear when I roll the right windows down.  Does not do it cruising---
just under acceleration in any gear.  Just bang bang bang like a
small jack hammer.

It does not seem to do it on decell-- just every time you touch the
gas-- let go and it stops.

This is not like any of the symptoms on Blau's site.


I went under the car and grabbed the drive shaft the only place I
could-- near the rear end.   I can rotate it back and fourth about
3/8 and it clangs.  I am not sure if this is too much since I have
always feel some free play rotation in most driveshafts I have felt.

I did not have today to remove the heat shield to visually inspect or
try to find the play.  I was too busy rebuilding my wife's A4 axle
boots.  Audi repair never stops.


I can also move the shaft side to side but not much and it feels like
something inside is clanging with a space between them-- sort of like
a lose spline shaft.


Anyone feel this is just the center bearing or is it more like bad
universal joints?

I see you can buy a complete rebuilt S driveshaft for about $418 at
some websites and Blau wants $400 for just the rebuild kit.   Of
course I do not have the Audi tool to set the driveshaft position up
if I get a rebuilt shaft.  Blau says I can just mark the original
spacing and use the existing shims if I use my original shaft.  I am
not sure this completely makes sense.

I am not driving it until I figure this out.


Any opinions?
-- 
Mark Turczyn