Re: Looks TOO simple...

["Arun Rao" <rao@quattro>]

On Oct 6, 10:15pm, Al Powell wrote:
> Subject: Looks TOO simple...
> It
> appears that all that is required is:
>
> 1)  Put the vehicle on ramps to keep weight on the wheels;
> 2)  Remove one bolt from outer end of each axle; this bolt appears to
> retain the splined outer end of the axle into the hub and wheel
> bearing.  (Replace bolt when re-installing...)

	You need a big breaker bar *and* a cheater pipe *and* you'll
	almost certainly have to jump up and down on the end of it
	to get the bolt off.

> 3)  Remove the recessed hex-head bolts from the transmission end of
> the drive axle.

	They aren't hex head -- they're 10 mm(?) triple-square. The
	local NAPA store ought to have a suitable bit: they call it
	just a 12-point bit, though.
>
> At that point, it appears each axle can be removed.  Replacing the
> boots appears to require sliding the CV joint off the splined end of
> the axle...and calls for a tool #3207.

	This is quite a pain if you don't know how (close to impossible
	while the axle is on the car). I had a mechanic remove mine --
	he clamped the axle in a vise, squeezed the circlip with locking
	nose pliers and hammered the joint off. It took quite a bit
	of determined hammering. He also put the new boot on and hammered
	the joint back in, so it was $30 well-spent.

> Is it REALLY that simple???  Surely the devious minds at Audi require
> more procedures in order to do it "the German way".  (?)

	If you consider this procedure simple, you're well on your way
	to becoming an Audi demi-god yourself :-)

	-Arun


--
Arun Rao
Pixar Animation Studios
Pt. Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 215-3526