i finally got my audi insured and after just driving it for the weekend my left axel came unbolted from the transmission. luckily i was going really slow on a dirt road and i dont think anything got damaged but i had to get it towed. i dont think the bolts got torqued down right when i was putting the tranny in. so beside making sure the new ones are torqued down correctly is there anything else i can do to make sure this doesnt happen again like lock tight or something? thanks

 

The bolts are a stretch design, they always have to be replaced after they have been loosened, same with the rear prop bolts, and subframe bolts.

 

hmmm that would have definitely been a good thing to know.... i guess im just lucky they didnt come out on the interstate or something, but im ordering some more so i guess i should be good

 

hey welcome to the club, same thing same axle happened to me this morning. i guess thats another thing we can add to the thiings that go wrong with all a4's thread. the left front axle.

 

If you're re-using axle bolts, loctite and a torque wrench are a must. It's best just to replace them. Also be sure the holes in the flanges are free of axle grease before re-assembly.

 

no i dont think so... that would be my fault for not knowing they werent reuseable so i dont think that can count as normal things that go wrong. did you unbolt yours and reuse the same bolts?


yeah i dont think ill be reusing them any more considering theyre probly scattered all over the roads somewhere haha

 

no, i got them brand new from a lot i found online. today i had to go to the stealership and buy them there, $36 for 6 bolts. god. i hope my tranny isnt dead, pretty much the inner cv just went and released all the bearings to tumble around until something gave, and out poped the axle.

 

If there's grease everywhere, you'll need to open the boot and reigrease the joint.

 

36 bucks for 6 freakin bolts?!?!?! god i hate the stealership prices... and the audi place near me is also an acura dealership and the acura guys are usually at the parts counter and have no idea what youre talking about.. i guess im going there today

also i just got a good look under the car and the shaft is stuck in between the tranny and the place the shaft bolts to the tranny... i hope thats not going to be a pain to get out :/

 

The Audi dealer by me is also a Porsche dealer, so they act like I'm on welfare for asking about parts for a '97 A4. Jerks lol.