Re: Clunking Drive shaft

["Fred Munro" <munrof@isys.ca>]

Andrew;

    It sounds like your centre diff is locked or is not releasing enough to
allow both axle sets to rotate independently. I think on your car this is a
Torsen unit that is only supposed to lock when it experiences a torque
differential - I'm sure Scott or Dave would be glad to explain in detail how
it works :o) I've never had this problem on the '91 200q, although if you
turn in a full lock circle at slow speed on ice or snow, you can feel it a
little. No problems with front tire wear, though. Any other A6q owners with
this problem?

Fred Munro
'91 200q  281k km

----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew Duane USG <duane@hunch.zk3.dec.com>
To: Fred Munro <munrof@isys.ca>
Cc: Quattro List <quattro@audifans.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 1999 8:19 AM
Subject: Re: Clunking Drive shaft


> Hairy green toads from Mars made Fred Munro say:
>
> >     If you try turning on pavement with the centre diff locked, it
stresses
> > the drivetrain because the front end of the car is rolling through a
larger
> > radius than the rear end and the locked centre diff is forcing them to
roll
> > over the same distance. This usually results in scrubbing the front end
> > around the turn and feels quite odd. With the centre diff unlocked, the
> > front and rear axle sets can turn at the appropriate speed (that's why
the
> > centre diff is there).
>
> I get this on my '95 A6QW, the scrubbing front end when I turn
> from a stop (like pulling into or out of a parking space).
> I never got it on my '89 100Q or my wife's '90 90Q20V.
> I do know that this car chews up front tires pretty fast.
> Is this normal? Or is something amiss with my center diff?
>
> --
>
> Andrew L. Duane (JOT-7) duane@zk3.dec.com
> Compaq Computer Corporation (603)-884-1294
> 110 Spit Brook Road
> M/S ZKO3-3/U14
> Nashua, NH    03062-2698
>
> Only my cat shares my opinions, and she's too psychotic to express it
>