hey guys just picked up my first 01.5 a4 1.8TQM. Well after having the car for a bit ive been noticing a slight popping/cracking noise when turning really hard or coming to a complete stop. I was beginning to think it must be my cv axles and or wheel bearings. Can you guys tell me if that sounds close to the case and also if being the case was looking to find out what the stock axles are rated at as in how much power they can handle. Was looking to go bt and figured if i have to replace them then to go ahead and get stronger ones now if needed. I heard they were really strong but after so much searching no one says how strong tho. Id like to eventually be around 4-450 at the very most 500 awhp can they handle that or would need to go all s4 axles,bearings, brakes, etc or higher and if so does anyone sell this in an upgrade kit? thanks

 

stock will be fine for you application. S4 are bigger bore than the 1.8 so you would need to swap bearings as well. they bolt right up on the 2.8 tho.

 

You'll be fine. I would recommend buying outer CV joints from ECS or Blauparts and rebuilding them yourself. Buying shitty $100 axle shafts will only make your life more difficult down the road. Ask me how I know....

 

2001 1.8tqm's had a larger spline, same as the 2.8Q. Rebuild yours with GKN brand outer CV's. No point in buying new ones.

As CCA4 said, and I also have personal experience with the cheap axles from advance and autozone. I have the GSP axles from advance and the inner tripodic joints are awful. The vibrate like crazy under acceleration.

I've been researching a lot lately trying to find out more about the differences between the axles. This is what I've gathered..

1997-2000 1.8t axles had a smaller spline (88mm) that would fit into a smaller hub along with 100mm CV flanges and standard inner CV's.
2001+ 1.8t larger spline (98mm), 100mm CV flanges, standard inner CV's.
1998-2001 aha/atq 2.8Q (unsure about before 98, the afc motor) larger spline (98) for larger hub, 100mm CV flanges also with standard inner CV's (don't quote me on the last part)
1998-2001 aha/atq 2.8 FWD Larger spline & hub (98mm), Tripodic inner CV joint 108mm CV flange.
2000-02 S4 same as 2.8 FWD.
Auto tranny's also used Tripodic inner joints.

Again, this is all just information I've gathered, parts could be wrong but it seems to be pretty standard info from forum to forum. I tried to cross-reference it with ETKA but there wasn't much useful info aside form types of joints used.

 

what exactly is tripodic vs standard?

 

Tripodic


Standard (not sure of the actual name for this joint


Both are CV's though.

 

i noticed that difference the other day but didn't know what they were called. thanks, do you know if they are interchangeable or if there are benefits of 1 vs the other

 

Honestly have no idea why they use different ones or the benefits. I don't think they're interchangeable unless you swap transmission flanges.