Watch out for bad front axles...

[Vogz]

My car has 55K miles now and I've replaced both front axles with new ones from Raxles. Both inner CVs were making a little noise at low speeds over bumps, starting and stopping and in turns. Nothing crazy sounding though. When I removed the axles and cut open the inner CVs, the grease poured out like water. Audi clearly uses shit CV grease and it leads to premature failure of front axles on B8/B8.5 A4s and S4s. The worst part is the passenger side axle had enough play to damage the bearing just inside the diff housing that the axle stub rides in on the passenger side. I have a rotational whipping sound when accelerating from a stop and turning left or right. I also have bearing whine that can be clearly heard at 45mph. I'm going to have to pull the trans for the second time in 4 months to address this after my clutch install in November.

[rtl5009]

You can't get that out without leaving the tranny in? I think you can. And you can support the cross axel through the pedastal bolt removal hole so you don't damage the seal! Worse thing you can do is damage the o ring in the case that seals around that axel and then you have to remove it anyway.Tip the car so you dont lose any fluid.

[Vogz]

You can't get that out without leaving the tranny in? I think you can. And you can support the cross axel through the pedastal bolt removal hole! Worse thing you can do is damage the o ring in the case that seals around that axel and then you have to remove it anyway.Tip the car so you dont lose any fluid.

Have you taken that cover off? I'll have to get it up on the lift and see how much room I have over there to work.

[rtl5009]

I've R&R'd my clutch twice now myself. The cover is 3 torx and holds the bearing in. I believe if you remove those and support the axel through the cover hole it will be a straight shot out. The cover/flange many need some fanagling from there but I think you can do it. Take a good hard look. The toughest part will be supporting it while guiding it back into the hole with out damaging the seal. I think it's totally possible tho. May need to sag the trans a bit or jack it up to get it to slide right out. Way better than complete removal tho.

[rtl5009]

Outrageous Fun.

[Vogz]

Total outrageous fun.

Looks like 10 torx bolts in my pic.. unless there is a smaller cover behind the axle flange on the passenger side.


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[rtl5009]

I've never had the passenger side apart. Only the drivers side. Sorry bud. Miss read that part.

[rtl5009]

I'd imagine it's similar, the flange is much bigger tho.

[Vogz]

I've never had the passenger side apart. Only the drivers side. Sorry bud. Miss read that part.

I was worried about that. Need to find an exploded view of trans to see what I'll need.

[rtl5009]

I can't find a drawing for that.

http://www.oemepc.com/audi/parts_lst...art/736/lang/e

[tar]

Pretty sure same has happened to mine. Next on the list, its like a kinda knocking sound over uneven pavement when turning when going slow. Almost a rattle. Every thing else on the car suspension wise is newly replaced and checked. How much were both fronts off raxles?

[Vogz]

Pretty sure same has happened to mine. Next on the list, its like a kinda knocking sound over uneven pavement when turning when going slow. Almost a rattle. Every thing else on the car suspension wise is newly replaced and checked. How much were both fronts off raxles?

A little over $300 each.

[yjypm]

My car makes a minor whipping sound when going very slow on very tight turns (like when making a u-turn in a parking lot), do you think this is due to the same problem?
Car sounds normal over bumps, under acceleration, and cruising.

[Vogz]

My car makes a minor whipping sound when going very slow on very tight turns (like when making a u-turn in a parking lot), do you think this is due to the same problem?
Car sounds normal over bumps, under acceleration, and cruising.

It could be your axle stub bearing on either side. You also could have bad axles and it's hardly noticeable. I would get it checked out now before it causes other problems. Most mechanics won't even suspect the axles on low mileage cars but after speaking with an Audi tech and Marty at Raxles, they apparently have lots of low mileage failures.

[rtl5009]

What is a whipping sound? Did your have play in the axel still installed?

[Vogz]

Sounds like something is attached to tire or axle and whipping against the wheel well, lol

There was a little play in axle when it was still in the car.


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[bakedziti]

Garage envy carry on

[Vogz]

Garage envy carry on

lol, thanks!

[B18b1ex]

Garage envy carry on

+1.


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[Militant-Grunt]

The wheel bearings are notorious on these cars for making all sorts of noises, I haven't replaced an axle on a B8 at the dealer yet.

[Vogz]

The wheel bearings are notorious on these cars for making all sorts of noises, I haven't replaced an axle on a B8 at the dealer yet.

Well my inner CVs both had play and grease that had turned to water in just over 55K miles. Have you seen any axle stub support bearing issues on the transmissions?

[rcaro900ss]

My B8 has less than 55K miles. Since it is on very wide sticky street tires, and spends time at the track (on 275/35 x 18 R compounds), the whole drivetrain is under a lot of stress. Right after the clutch called it a day at VIR at 48K, I had growling sounds coming from the left front wheel area. That was a bad wheel bearing that had to be replaced. I would always check wheel bearings first, before checking anything else, when you hear noise coming from any corner of the car. I have also never had to replace axles on my street or track cars, just cv joints. I consider cv joints a replacement wear item. I have also found that if I don't use the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid) it costs me more time or money.

[Vogz]

My B8 has less than 55K miles. Since it is on very wide sticky street tires, and spends time at the track (on 275/35 x 18 R compounds), the whole drivetrain is under a lot of stress. Right after the clutch called it a day at VIR at 48K, I had growling sounds coming from the left front wheel area. That was a bad wheel bearing that had to be replaced. I would always check wheel bearings first, before checking anything else, when you hear noise coming from any corner of the car. I have also never had to replace axles on my street or track cars, just cv joints. I consider cv joints a replacement wear item. I have also found that if I don't use the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid) it costs me more time or money.

My wheel bearings are fine. I have zero noise above 10mph and they don't have any play. Checked by myself and a local Audi mechanic. Since they CV joints are part of the axle, I had to replace the axle.


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[wangshuo1989]

I'm at 55K too but my axles are perfect. Guess either our roads here in NW are easier to cars or audi improved the quality on B8.5 cars.

[rcaro900ss]

CV joints are replaceable parts on the axle. You can buy them from ECS Tuning and other parts suppliers. However, if you can buy the new axles with new CV joints for $300 each, that is a deal I would do every day :)

[Vogz]

I'm at 55K too but my axles are perfect. Guess either our roads here in NW are easier to cars or audi improved the quality on B8.5 cars.

The axles have identical part numbers on B8.5. If they changed anything, they put in better grease.


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[Vogz]

CV joints are replaceable parts on the axle. You can buy them from ECS Tuning and other parts suppliers. However, if you can buy the new axles with new CV joints for $300 each, that is a deal I would do every day :)

Of course they come apart but rebuilding axles is a messy pain in the ass. Plus lots of replacement CVs out there are re-ground Chinese pieces of shit. Yes, at little over $300 each with brand new CVs and AMSoil grease, Raxles are a fantastic deal.


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[rtl5009]

Repacking cv's fucking blows. I did it once to save a few dollars and swore to never do it again.

[rcaro900ss]

Replacing CV joints are no big deal. I have done way too many. However, replacing the front crankshaft seal on my S6, which I am currently doing, that is a pain in the ass :(

[SDV325]

Would either a failing bearing, worn axles or bad CV joints cause vibrations? Car has ~80K kms (50K miles) and dont really have loud noises as described above, the PSS are starting to get loud as they wear down.

Lately i have noticed small but noticeable vibrations usually around 50mph and up, increasingly worse going around tighter corners on the highway. The problem was really bad where my steering wheel would shake when my winter tires were on and now with the PSS the car isnt smooth as it used to be.

Could be both sets of tires need balancing but always wondering if its something more. Or something as simple as an alignment which has been a few years....

[S4Sanity]

It could be your axle stub bearing on either side. You also could have bad axles and it's hardly noticeable. I would get it checked out now before it causes other problems. Most mechanics won't even suspect the axles on low mileage cars but after speaking with an Audi tech and Marty at Raxles, they apparently have lots of low mileage failures.

I recall reading that the sound during a tight turn at low speeds was a byproduct. It's like a low grumble until I'm done with the extreme part of the turn. Was I led astray?

[CELison]

I'm getting a whipping sound as well like there's a piece of wire attached to the wheel and it's hitting something when the wheel rotates. Almost sounds like letting something slapping against a spinning fan. Very light sound. I'm hoping it's just a wheel bearing and not the inner bearing in the diff housing. OP, did you have to pull the trans? Mine is dsg however, not sure how the output bearings on the diffs vary from 6 spd to dsg.

[jygesq]

did you check to see if a rock is caught between the brake disk & caliper?

[raudiace4]

The axles have identical part numbers on B8.5. If they changed anything, they put in better grease.


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Let's hope so. I had the same issues you're facing on my 2012 S4 right around 53K miles. I wonder how much being lowered affects the life of the CV joints/axles in the long run. Hope the B8.5 grease holds up or that Audi made the switch to a better one.

How's the 996 been?

[kelseysautobody]

I just had my passenger side inner axle and boot apart and the grease looked clean and thick. 2013 with 53k miles on stock suspension.

[CELison]

did you check to see if a rock is caught between the brake disk & caliper?

Yes, took the caliper and rotor off. I'm also getting a groaning from that corner of the car when it loads while turning. I've had 5 bad wheel bearings on my b5 and this sounds different though.

[fally]

I use my Audi as my daily. S4 B8.5 w tune at 50k+ miles. Had both front axles replaced already.

[VtotheJ]

I use my Audi as my daily. S4 B8.5 w tune at 50k+ miles. Had both front axles replaced already.

How did you know the axles were bad? I'm getting some sort of road noise... I think it's just my tires. When I turn the wheel at high speeds the road noise doesn't change.

[Vogz]

I'm getting a whipping sound as well like there's a piece of wire attached to the wheel and it's hitting something when the wheel rotates. Almost sounds like letting something slapping against a spinning fan. Very light sound. I'm hoping it's just a wheel bearing and not the inner bearing in the diff housing. OP, did you have to pull the trans? Mine is dsg however, not sure how the output bearings on the diffs vary from 6 spd to dsg.

Sounds a lot like what I had. I ended up picking up a trans with similar mileage from a recycler and the sound is completely gone. I'll be replacing the worn bearing in the old trans and I'll either keep it as a backup or sell it.

[Vogz]

Let's hope so. I had the same issues you're facing on my 2012 S4 right around 53K miles. I wonder how much being lowered affects the life of the CV joints/axles in the long run. Hope the B8.5 grease holds up or that Audi made the switch to a better one.

How's the 996 been?

Lowering effect is probably minimal, I've never had CV issues on a lowered car before. I attribute my issues more to a handful of track days causing lots of heat buildup in the CVs.

996 has been awesome. Runs like a top, carves corners like a boss, and goes like stink. Love it.