RE: Broken Axle on 87 Audi 4000CS

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

I think that we're talking about a FWD automatic tranny equipped vehicle
here .. the original poster said nothing about quattro and mentioned terms
like "drive" and "reverese" in their post.  

Even on a quattro it is not possible to lock the front diff in any event.  

I'd suggest that the best way to get to the bottom of the problem is to do a
bit of failure analysis on the broken half shafts.  What exactly failed on
the two that broke?  Did the same one break each time?  

It sounds as though the person with the problem needs to try to find another
service provider to look at their car!  Perhaps if you would tell us where
you are located we might be able to point you to a reputable service
facility ...

Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)

> -----Original Message-----
> 
> I did not mean the center locked.  I meant the front.
> 
> Pat
> 
> 
> > In a message dated 9/28/99 10:22:02 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> > mardkins@email.msn.com writes:
> >
> > > Sounds to me like the differential is locked.  That would 
> snap a shaft.
> >
> > I'd tend to doubt that generally...Unless you've got reman 
> axles and an
> > abusive operator. I run my ole '84 with a full time locked 
> centre and
> > pushbutton rear lock without ill effects, and it's my often 
> daily driver.
> > It's still 100% with lots of street miles and one ProRally 
> school under
> it's
> > belt. Not that it's any easy car to park by any means!
> >
> > The first reason I can think of for cv joint breakage 
> beside normal wear
> > would be an improper replacement. If the shaft length isn't 
> correct for
> the
> > application+side+f/r it'll stress the cage enough for a quick break.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Chris Semple
> > '87 4000q
> >    '84 4000q 2.3L Lightweight
> >        '86 4000q
> >            '83 ur-q
> >                '98 A4q 30v
> >                    '97 A6q Avant, in many pieces
> 
> 
>