Front Drivers side trans bearing: where to get them procedure to change

[Dorny1]

I have a 2001 s4 with the 6 spd trans. had a clunking noise from the front suspension though it was the control arm that the strut bolts to so changed them (already changed the 3 others on both sides) then grabbed my axle on the drivers side and it was wobling at the trans. So the bearing is going out looks pretty strait forward to replace, but would like to know what to expect and where and what the name is of the parts and what i will all need. I'm also going to change the trans oil and differential oil just wondering what the best fluid to use is.

Thanks in advance.

[mholme]

So the play is after the inner CV joint and there is visible movement at the flange?

[Dorny1]

yes i believe what you mean is that after where the axle attaches to the to the trans that bearing in the case itself for that axle. There's basically a cover that goes over that and it looks like you just remove the axle then this cover and everything should be strait forward from there, but i need to know where i can get the parts from. But i'd also like to find out if theres anything to expect that isn't in this "this looks simple" fix.

[mholme]

The axle or inner CV joint, connects to the output flange at the transmission and the flange itself connects internally. There is a roller bearing in there along with seals and washers that I'm not exactly sure would be responsible for the movement you're having. You want to be sure where the play is before you start pulling parts. Maybe the resident transmission guy will chime in, but I don't think anything past the oil seal for the output flange is going to be a simple job.

[Dorny1]

Well I was going to take it to my buddies shop to do it, but starting to think he should do it. After all it is his old car and knows the s4 inside and out, besides the more extensive trans work. its literally the output shaft that its wobbling at. so right now i'm on JHM looking at one of their inside and outside the audi 6spd trans

[Dorny1]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...h-the-video...

Found this seems like he's having the same problem took a few hours of searching, but he had to have the bearing made or something.

[ringsofdespair]

I think i'm getting the similar noise. Let me know how it goes.

[Dorny1]

well its the problem about parts now is what it seems. 2 bearings 3 seals and the gasket for the cover

[Dorny1]

:::HUGE UPDATE:::

For all you guys out there who might have had this problem I have finally tracked down the bearings and the seals so you can get it fixed. You will need the pinch bolts or re-use them at your own risk. The only thing I can't find is the gasket for the output shaft covers, but gasket maker works wonders in these situations. After a good search across the net for the past week or so I found Partsgeek.com and hit them up to verify these are the parts. He corrected the seals because I had clicked on the Auto ones so here for you guys is the parts and if you need them ordered now its basically in a cart.

http://www.partsgeek.com/cart/quote/HQ3XCWS0

[Scotty@Advanced]

:::HUGE UPDATE:::

For all you guys out there who might have had this problem I have finally tracked down the bearings and the seals so you can get it fixed. You will need the pinch bolts or re-use them at your own risk. The only thing I can't find is the gasket for the output shaft covers, but gasket maker works wonders in these situations. After a good search across the net for the past week or so I found Partsgeek.com and hit them up to verify these are the parts. He corrected the seals because I had clicked on the Auto ones so here for you guys is the parts and if you need them ordered now its basically in a cart.


http://www.partsgeek.com/cart/quote/HQ3XCWS0

I'm having great difficulty wondering what your talking about. There are no pinch bolts, and there is no gasket for the output shaft covers? What is an output shaft cover? Do you mean the diff carrier cover? If so then there is an o-ring. Do not use gasket maker as the stuff can break off and get in your syncros rendering them ineffective.

If you're diff bearings are truly bad then it's likely you've chewed up the ring and pinion. Play in a diff bearing will cause play in the ring gear and the pinion teeth will chew up the ring gear. although this will happen with a lot of noise.

If there is play in the CV flanges only then the CV flanges can be out of round (it happens) or the differential carrier can be worn allowing the CV flanges to wobble. Of the 100's of gearboxes I've rebuilt I've never seen diff bearings that were damaged as so much to cause the diff carrier to wobble, even if the trans was run out of oil (the pinion bearing goes first). I have however seen many diff flanges machined incorrectly causing the cv joint to orbit a bit when rotating.

Anyways the bearings on partsgeek are the wrong ones listed. We stock the correct bearings for about ~ $20.00 per side.

Also keep in mind diff bearing replacement requires proper shim determination to get the correct backlash and preload. To tight and you'll burn up your ring and pinion and or new bearings.

[Dorny1]

If there is play in the CV flanges only then the CV flanges can be out of round (it happens) or the differential carrier can be worn allowing the CV flanges to wobble.

This is whats happening but its the whold shaft moving. from this diagram (I dont believe its the exact one and its of an auto) I see it needs the bearing at the flange.

The item 35.220/130 is apparently a bearing that is on that diagram That is where the wobble i believe is from. not the actual Differential. God I hate transmissions work.

This is about the same problem i'm having but on the left side not right ->http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=322886

[Scotty@Advanced]

If there is play in the CV flanges only then the CV flanges can be out of round (it happens) or the differential carrier can be worn allowing the CV flanges to wobble.

This is whats happening but its the whold shaft moving. from this diagram (I dont believe its the exact one and its of an auto) I see it needs the bearing at the flange.

The item 35.220/130 is apparently a bearing that is on that diagram That is where the wobble i believe is from. not the actual Differential. God I hate transmissions work.

This is about the same problem i'm having but on the left side not right ->http://forums.audiworld.com/showthread.php?t=322886

That image above is from a 5 speed automatic not a 6 speed manual. (B5 S5 6 speed is manual.. entirely different gearbox.).

[Dorny1]

ok well with a rough guess i figure the front diff setup would be similar. But any help with the parts i need for essentially that side and that area to eliminate or reduce the wobble would be greatly appreciative.

[Scotty@Advanced]

ok well with a rough guess i figure the front diff setup would be similar. But any help with the parts i need for essentially that side and that area to eliminate or reduce the wobble would be greatly appreciative.

Can you send me a vid of the wobble?

To eliminate the flange, you might swap flanges from left to right and see if the same side wobbles. (you'll make a mess with gear oil).

[Dorny1]

I'll have it tommorrow taking it to one of the local members shop and having him check it and i'll get ya that video

[Dorny1]

I forgot to take the video while at another mechanics shop. Another one of the guys in our local euro car group. I gave him all the details and he said they were right. He went ahead and checked them against an audi s4 manual transaxle and said they checked out guess i'll find out later this week when they show up and he goes to work.

Plus always a nice stop there with his old school S8 and 2006 RS6 :D

[B5Ballin]

I forgot to take the video while at another mechanics shop. Another one of the guys in our local euro car group. I gave him all the details and he said they were right. He went ahead and checked them against an audi s4 manual transaxle and said they checked out guess i'll find out later this week when they show up and he goes to work.

Plus always a nice stop there with his old school S8 and 2006 RS6 :D

Did you ever figure this out? I think I am suffering from the same problem. The flange def has more play then it should and its wobbling everywhere.

[coreyj]

50% of the cars i work on everyday have some varying degree of play in the inner cv flange including my own. very common and not a problem unless its extreme play or making noise.

[Dorny1]

mine is making noise. A nice clunk over bumps I've resorted to being nice on bad roads and limiting my travel to only in town. Tommorrow I will be out at one of the members from pkg (Midwest euro car club) and he is a certified auto mech with all the vag diagrams for the transmission.

It would be nice for Scotty to put out a part number if he has the diagrams, or where to find them :D

[Scotty@Advanced]

50% of the cars i work on everyday have some varying degree of play in the inner cv flange including my own. very common and not a problem unless its extreme play or making noise.

Play in the 01E front output flanges is not common. If the play is in the flange then the flange has worn and needs to be replaced, eventually the splines on the spider gears will wear and strip out as well as the seal leaking. If it's actually the diff that is moving then your transmission ring and pinion will slowly begin to chew itself resulting in needed a new trans.

Here's an explosion of the front diff. Diff bearings are #6 and #3. If there is play in them the entire carrier is wobbling, and the ring and pinion have tight tolerances meaning the pinion teeth will grind away at the ring gear. It's possible the flange is wobbling inside the diff carrier but this is unlikely.

[coreyj]

you are probably right on the diff bearing because its on both sides but, there was play in my o1e front diff ever since i owned the car.. then when i rebuilt it i didnt notice much wear on the pinion shaft or ring gear. i believe you scotty but by the time that breaks i will have saved up for a tdi O1E from you.

[Dorny1]

Thank you Scott, I had my audi tech friend check the bearings out and they are the exact specs as #3 and #6 just not an "audi" part so part number isnt right. Worse case scenario i'll be picking up one of your transmissions, but there were no shavings in the diff oil when we checked the levels it was not burnt or dirty either. I have reduced the car to only driving 3 mi to and from class and also if i see a bump avoid or massively slow down.

Advice to all with this problem. Only drive car if neccessary and if possible not at all till fixed as Scott stated this can cause the pinion and spider gear to go bad. I think i'll be good with only about 5 mi of driving I really need to do this next week. Wish my "reliable" 8v jetta had not sprung a giant coolant leak.

[Dorny1]

Ok so they are in they are correct size. The woo noise I was getting before is gone which is a happy suprise a majority of the road noise is gone. I had the ring and pinion checked for tolerences and they were good. both bearings were replaced and both seals were replaced and new trans oil was put in.

good things:
Clunk is gone
woo noise is gone
road noise is down significantly

Bad...
I still get minor clunk but its different and i've determined that there was more than one thing clunking. its either the shock tower bolts which I just tightend down in the rain, or the sway bar endlinks and maybe a tie rod is going out. I'm gonna get on those tommorrow but these are the right bearings listed above in the link.

[awd2ks4]

Were u getting a loud whine on when u are on the throttle?