For those in Need of Raxles Axles for your Allroad - Price Range and why not EMPI

[Zamorano510]

Difference between OEM axles and EMPI or SOLID SHAFT axle, which can end up taking the life of your A4/A6/C5 Allroads and Avant.

Ive had 2 Allroads, one had EMPI and my current AR has OEM Axles from Raxles. First AR passed away when the Driver's side EMPI Axle broke from the inner point, pressuring my Engine and transmission from their mounts and tearing my Transmission for the underside of the car. Audi Volkswagen Specialist in Berkeley spent a month assessing the situation until my insurance took my AR and paid me out for my car.

Now I have gone the serious distance of ordering the pair of Raxles Axles for my Allroad. Raxles set comes with all the necessary tools needed to change the axles as well as a pre-paid label for you to send your cores back to Raxles. Located in Florida, it does take a long while to receive your package if you stay in Oakland California, but so normal OEM Rebuilt axles, go with Raxles.

EMPI axles are made from replicated OEM parts which do fit inline with the all of the hardware of your A6 or Allroad. However, the main shaft connected from the inner CV axle to the outer CV axle is made up of one piece of metallic rod, whereas the OEM axle is a hollowed out pipe that connects from the inner to the outer axle.

OEM Axles which Raxles makes consist of OEM inner and out rebuilt CV joints along with the original hollowed shaft in the middle. This shaft is a pipe that is circular at all points. Because it is circular, the shape of which has been formed has no weak spots at any point of the shaft, such as center weight that can unbalance the shaft, leading to a smooth ride with no unbalanced weight being thrown around from the axle.

Now, it might seem that there is much difference between a metal rod and a solid pipe, but there is. a Metal rod is not fully centered and balanced when measured at a degree of 0.0. So when you spin the axle at a low speed, Like a bucket of water being spun in a circle, water wants to move in the direction of the force applied, the mass of the center of the Rod will make the shaft revolve unequally thus causing the vibration in your steering wheel, chatter from the drive-train and if not take care of immediately, pressure being exerted to the rest of the drive-train components. All this because the shaft is unbalanced and not Trued, a centered revolution, and is rotation at high speed.

I ordered the pair my pair and this what I got for the prices. I hope you get your axles from RAXLES

Front - $216.00
Passenger - $216.00
Pair - $532.00
Shipping - $85.00 for 5-7 day shipping
$132.0 for 3-5 day shipping

Raxles also sends a pre-paid postage for your Cores as well, so when done, Pack up your old ones and send them back.

Also, the prices are pretty high and it might seem unreasonable. However, the C5 Allroad is a Rare wagon that needs great attention and with Raxles Limited Lifetime Warranty of a pair of axles that will last 10 years......... I wouldn't want to spend $120 for a Duralast or EMPI axle and sign the terminal certificate of death for my Allroad.

[julex]

that's scary, I had a pair of empi on my car once but they were removed about 2 months into the installation due to two issues:

1) oetiker clamps on these are made of tin and would undo themselves causing grease to splatter everywhere
2) they rusted over literally within a week during winter weather, not a sign of great quality...

Luckily I had no mechanical problems at the time and what happened to you is just plain scary and why manufacturers should be liable for such crap...

[rollerton]

I'd never use an Empi axle. Not Ever. Not anything EMPI is worth a penny.
I have howerever used half a dozen or more of the Autozone Duralast axles, and other that one that I think the CV boot failed after a year or so, and have never had an issue.
I'll qualify this by saying I haven't had an issue *yet*, and wouldn't use them if I had.
Raxles is 100% the best way to go I'm sure- it's just a matter of mostly convenience since I can get an axle in 20 minutes from Autozone.

[Brandon002]

I've had very good luck with the autozone axles as well. Also, their warranty is top notch for the price. So even if they fail prematurely, replacements are free.

[8520]

I'd never use an Empi axle. Not Ever. Not anything EMPI is worth a penny.
I have howerever used half a dozen or more of the Autozone Duralast axles, and other that one that I think the CV boot failed after a year or so, and have never had an issue.
I'll qualify this by saying I haven't had an issue *yet*, and wouldn't use them if I had.
Raxles is 100% the best way to go I'm sure- it's just a matter of mostly convenience since I can get an axle in 20 minutes from Autozone.

I'm sure raxles are great and all, but I'm with bob on this one. Autozone axles have treated me fine for 5 years plus on my a6. Only reason I ever replaced them was because boots tore after several years.