Audi A4 B7 1.8t Quattro issues

[Nathan Holtappel]

Hi everyone, im new to this so please go easy on me. Ive recently bought an A4 B7 1.8t quattro that seems to have numerous issues. It's been diagnosed that the rear diff may need rebuilding and also the centre bearing on the prop needs replacing. My Local garage are going to change the Oil in the diff to see if that helps at all, however I think it's going to need reconditioning. With regards the Propshaft, there are a few places close by to me that can repair the prop, however my local garage are concerned that once the prop has been removed my car will be stuck on the ramp as it can't be moved with the prop out. Ice tried searching for a recon prop or new pattern part so that I can take one out and put one back in. I can't find anything and wondered if anyone here might know where I can get one.

Cheers

 

[Nathan Holtappel]

Hi everyone, im new to this so please go easy on me. Ive recently bought an A4 B7 1.8t quattro that seems to have numerous issues. It's been diagnosed that the rear diff may need rebuilding and also the centre bearing on the prop needs replacing. My Local garage are going to change the Oil in the diff to see if that helps at all, however I think it's going to need reconditioning. With regards the Propshaft, there are a few places close by to me that can repair the prop, however my local garage are concerned that once the prop has been removed my car will be stuck on the ramp as it can't be moved with the prop out. Ice tried searching for a recon prop or new pattern part so that I can take one out and put one back in. I can't find anything and wondered if anyone here might know where I can get one.

Cheers

Anyone?

 

[Baka]

I was under the impression the prop centre bearing was a replaceable part separate to the prop itself? A failed bearing shouldn't necessitate replacement of the prop.

I'd take the car to a franchise dealer for a health check personally and see what they say. Then find a well recommended indy to do any work they recommend.

 

[Gazwould]

Private sale ?

 

[Nathan Holtappel]

Hi There. the car was bought from an independent dealer. Don't really want to go into it all, but basically he screwed me. Ive taken the hit, learnt from it and now just want to get the car sorted. I took it to ADS in Preston (Audi Vw spaecialist) to diagnose the diff issue. To be honest I was pretty dissapointed. The took great pleasure in pointing out that whoever thought it was the diff was wrong and that the noise I was hearing was coming from the centre bearing. True there was a noise but I didn't ask the to diagnose a noise, I asked them to diagnose an issue with the diff. Took it to my local garage to look at removing the prop in order to get it repaired. Straight away they said there was an issue with the diff (loads of backlash) which is what I had thought all along. Cut a long story short, im in the process of getting to the root of the Diff. Gonna start with an oil change. If that doesnt work, either swap out the diff or have it rebuilt. Second issue, the centre bearing. My local garage don't want to take the prop out for me to send away for repair as when the prop is out the car is stuck on their ramp. They want a prop there ready so that it is one in one out. Ive spoken to other places to see if they are willing to take the prop out and repair the centre bearing all in one hit but nobody wants to touch it so far. The car is a 2005 1.8t quattro, which I think is crossover from the B6 1.8t and the B7 2.0t. Can't find parts anywhere. Is the prop the same throughout models e.g 2.0t, 2.0 tdi, s4 etc.? Are parts for the B7 1.8t same as B6 1.8t. I just can't find any diffinative info anywhere. So far rthe only Rear diff I have managed to locate is in Estonia.

 

[Mario]

I don't see why the car can't simply be pushed in neutral off the ramp once the prop is removed and parked up. That way the garage still have use of their ramps. Then push it back on when the prop returns repaired.....

 

[Nathan Holtappel]

Forgive me if im wrong but ive read elswhere, and the garage have told me the same thing that when the prop is removed the wheels don't turn. Is this right?

 

[Mario]

Nope that's not right. If your garage has told you that I would take it elsewhere!!

The prop connects the gearbox (at the front) to the differential (at the rear). If you remove it, then the wheels will still turn, but the front & rear will not be connected. You have basically removed the 4WD aspect. In theory you could still drive it as a front wheel drive car. Personally, I wouldn't. However a prop shaft being removed will NOT stop the wheels turning.

 

[Nathan Holtappel]

So would that mean you could effectively drive the car as 2wd? or would this cause other issues?

 

[Mario]

In theory yes, you could drive it as 2WD if you disconnect the prob, but as I said above, I probably wouldn't do it. Sometimes when you remove the prop (depending on the setup) you will lose oil, and you don't want to drive anywhere with gearbox oil spilling out.

However there is no harm in simply pushing the car in neutral off the ramps into the car park, then pushing it back onto the ramps to re-fit the prop.

 

[Nathan Holtappel]

Cheers. I shall investigate further with the garage. My guess is they are not overly familiar with the quattro system. Unfortunately the specialist only really wanted to put a new prop in from Audi which would be about £1000.

 

[Mario]

My guess is they are not overly familiar with the quattro system.

What I have said above isn't specific to Quattro, but relates to all 4WD cars. Same applies to all RWD cars, nothing stopping you from pushing it without the prop shaft fitted.

If they have told you the wheels will not move when the prop shaft is disconnected, I would probably run in the opposite direction and find someone who knows what they are talking about.

As for the specialist, did they point blank refuse to fit a refurbished prop or only advise against it? End of the day, as long as you accept the risk that if it fails again it's not their issue (as long as it's not due to poor workmanship) then I don't see why they won't do it.

 

[Nathan Holtappel]

The specialist quoted for putting in a new prop and pointed me in the direction of someone who could repair it if a new one wasn't an option. I never actually asked them to quote for doing this for me as I got the impression they didn't really want to entertain it.

 

[Mario]

Go back and ask them. The old adage goes, "don't ask, don't get"

 

[Nathan Holtappel]

Good point

 

[maxdrz400]

Just out of intrest what is the problem you are having?

 

[Nathan Holtappel]

The problem im having is that when I set off from standing there is a physical and audible clunking coming from the rear of the car. The only way to describe it is that it's like something is slipping almost giving the sensation of a flat tyre. Ive also heard it described as someone thumping the underside of the car near the wheel well. The feeling goes away once you are into second gear and driving as normal. It does however get worse as the car warms up which I believe is due to the rear diff oil getting hotter. If I do a number of stop start short journeys and the car is getting hotter, this is when it's at it's worse.

 

[maxdrz400]

Have you got a matching set of tyres? With equal wear?
Im only asking as my rear diff went through a stage of "groaning" it sounded similar to what your describe and was resolved when i fitted new tyres.
Does it also do it on full lock?

 

[Nathan Holtappel]

Probably less so on full lock and in reverse. The tyres are 2 matching front and 2 matching rears however they are getting quite worn so may look to change them soon. The problem is less of a noise more a physical thump

 

[maxdrz400]

See what its like with new tyres, better than throwing money at a diff that may not be knackered.
honestly i was amazed at the way the noise came and went on mine.
Its a hard noise to describe what i had, it sounded similar to a fast thumping, but was mainly noise i could hear.

 

[Nathan Holtappel]

So the latest is that I took the car to a transmission specialist who is 95% certain that it's the centre diff that's causing the issues. He has said to leave it and see if it develops. He was reluctant to put a new diff in at a cost of over £1200 if that wasn't the fault. Does anybody know where I can get hold off a used centre diff to try?

 

[Nathan Holtappel]

So just thought I would give everyone an update on the issue Ive been having. Had a full set of new tyres fitted on Saturday and guess what............It appears to have cured the problem. I might be a little premature saying it is cured, but the horrible shudder, clunk, slipping or whatever you want to call it has gone. I can't believe that something that felt so horrendous has gone just like that. I think there still might be some underlying issues as there is still a whining noise that im pretty sure is the centre bearing on the prop, however it's so much nicer to drive. Im actually starting to enjoy the car now.

 

[maxdrz400]

Excellent news!