Re: 5kTQ Drivehshaft replacement

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

> The all-knowing Dieter, my trusty Audi guru, tells me that my clicking
> noise is coming from the prop shaft running from the center to the rear
> differential.  He thinks that either the front CV joint or the center bearing
> (or both) is bad.
> 
> Blaufergnugen has whole rebuilt shafts with the bearing and two CV
> joints for $500.  Has anybody found a better price?

$500 for a rebuild!  Sounds like highway robbery to me.  I've heard that 
there are driveline repair places that'll rebuild a quattro propshaft for
less than $200.  Check your local yellow pages and call around!  These 
things aren't cell-phones you know!  :-)
> 
> I remember some discussion recently about replacing the center bearing
> with a BMW part.  Has anyone confirmed that this works on a 5kTQ? 
> Dave at GPR has a part he claims fits for $50.  Does anyone have the
> part number?  Has anybody bought the part from Dave?
> 
> Last, if I were to use a BMW bearing and new CV joints, does anyone
> know if I would need to get the shaft rebalanced?
> 
... I rebuilt my urQ driveshaft 10 years ago ... it only needed the car-
rier bearing and parts cost was less than $30.  I did not have the shaft 
rebalanced, but I did make sure I assembled the parts in exactly the same 
orientation they were originally in.  If you do this I don't see why any 
rebalancing would be required.  I have posted my repair procedure and if 
you'd like I can send you a copy.  The BMW part number was posted a few 
months back as well.  Mine made a typical grinding bearing noise ... if 
yours is clicking I agree that it might be one of the CV joints or the 
u-joint.

HTH!
Steve Buchholz
s_buchho@kla.com
San Jose, CA (USA)