Re: Rear driveshaft joint

[steveb@newkla.kla.com (Steven Buchholz)]

> > 
> > Can someone point out where the fittings on the driveshaft are?
> > 
> 
> On the 5000 TQ, there is a grease fitting in the universal joint where
> the driveshaft connects to the transmission. It is recessed and there
> is not much room to get a standard grease gun nozzle around it. I had
> asked my local Audi dealer to grease this joint, thinking that they have
> a slimmer grease gun nozzle. They didn't. Seems like they never greased
> this fitting on any of the cars. I bought a disposable grease
> gun with a slim plastic nozzle end, at Kmart, and have been able to use
> this to grease that fitting. I think the manual recommends greasing this
> fitting every 6K or 10K miles (don't remember exactly).
> 
The u-joint is actually in the *middle* of the driveshaft, near where the
axial bearing that mounts the drive shaft to the body of the car is, not
at the transmission mounting end.  Both ends of the driveshaft connect to
their respective flanges using a CV-joint.  It is possible to lube the CV
joints as well.  The grease fitting on the u-joint is a bit tough to see,
you'll need to lift one of the rear wheels (and unlock the rear diff and 
put tranny in neutral) to allow the driveshaft to rotate.  You will see a 
fitting between two of the legs of the spider.  I find that I can get my 
standard Sneers grease gun in there if I rotate the drive shaft just right.
I don't mean to split hairs, but the service interval I have seen in most 
owner's manuals is 15K miles (but as I noted in my original response I did 
see an interval of 15K km in one manual).  

Steve Buchholz
s_buchho@kla.com