Reverting from RWD back to Quattro.. what do I need

[zevond]

So I purchased my 99.5 1.8t that had already been converted to RWD almost 2 years ago. It was a unique novelty for a while but the Quattro system is great and I want to go back to it. What do I need to have the car reverted back? Do I just need to source a center diff (pricey I know) and order new front drive axels?

any help appreciated

[pee quu]

I don't think the rear diff would have been touch unless it was welded to be a solid rear end. Its the center diff in the trans that would have been welded. From what I have read that's how people make the cars rear wheel drive. Other than that, yes it should just be front axles

[zevond]

I don't think the rear diff would have been touch unless it was welded to be a solid rear end. Its the center diff in the trans that would have been welded. From what I have read that's how people make the cars rear wheel drive. Other than that, yes it should just be front axles

Yup sorry my mistake, meant center.. might have to start trying to find one

[Wrath And Tears]

Go to a junkyard and grab a used trans and axles. Should be pretty easy to find.

[Mad Cow]

Go to a junkyard and grab a used trans and axles. Should be pretty easy to find.

This, then sell your current setup to someone trying to convert to rwd.

Sent from my MI 5 using Tapatalk

[pee quu]

yeah I would also just pick up and full trans. Sometimes you can find them cheap. I think I sold my old 5 speed set up for 500 bucks. Trans, axles, driveshaft and rear diff.

[zevond]

Go to a junkyard and grab a used trans and axles. Should be pretty easy to find.

just curious, why should I grab a whole trans and not just swap the diffs?

[zevond]

yeah I would also just pick up and full trans. Sometimes you can find them cheap. I think I sold my old 5 speed set up for 500 bucks. Trans, axles, driveshaft and rear diff.

not bad, ill keep an eye out for a part out and try and snag one

[Wrath And Tears]

Well it really depends how you plan to do it. One way is more work / less cost and the otherway way is less work / more cost. It all depends on whats available to you and how much work you feel like doing.

[turbo3]

Just throw some front axles in it. But you live in Cali, you would never see snow to truly have fun with the Quattro.

[walky_talky20]

If he just installs front axles, it's going to bind hard on pavement like a 4WD truck. It will chew the tires up, not to mention it will be dangerous to drive that way. Besides, he isn't after 4WD. He is after the magic of the quattro system. And that magic is the torsen center differential.

[turbo3]

If he just installs front axles, it's going to bind hard on pavement like a 4WD truck. It will chew the tires up, not to mention it will be dangerous to drive that way. Besides, he isn't after 4WD. He is after the magic of the quattro system. And that magic is the torsen center differential.

Had a guy that did that say he didn't have any binding issues

[Nollywood]

Had a guy that did that say he didn't have any binding issues

I find this pretty hard to believe. A welded centre differential, with front axles in place WILL bind. It'll be like driving a Toyota Hilux with AWD engaged in the dry.

Unless this car is only driven in a straight line.

[nynoah]

I think they remove the front drive shafts. I would not want to drive that car. My god the front wheel bearings would be a time bomb without the CVs in place.

[pee quu]

I think they remove the front drive shafts. I would not want to drive that car. My god the front wheel bearings would be a time bomb without the CVs in place.

you cant just leave the front with "open bearings" the wheel would fall off. When guys do RWD conversions you have to take the front axles apart. By that I mean you have to take the outer axle cup (the part that slides into the hub), remove it from the axle and place it in the hub and bolt it in like you would an axle. it makes the hub and bearing think there is an axle there

[walky_talky20]

^At first they are unsure. But the hub and bearing have a couple meetings in the conference room about it, and then they're all on board with the idea.

[redline380]

How the hell do they torque the axle bolt enough? Wouldn't the tire just spin, even if the car is on the ground?

[zevond]

Just throw some front axles in it. But you live in Cali, you would never see snow to truly have fun with the Quattro.

Lots of Quattro guys up here drive to reno/tahoe exactly for that reason

[walky_talky20]

How the hell do they torque the axle bolt enough? Wouldn't the tire just spin, even if the car is on the ground?

You can have somebody hold the brake, but if you can make a front tire spin with the car on the ground, you must have some serious strength.

[redline380]

Start engine. Have somebody hold the brake pedal.

too much work. I'll stay quattro.

Can't wait until I have four audis so I can say in spanish "Yo tengo quattro quattros." <------- Life goal

[walky_talky20]

^lol. That's awesome. Almost there!

[Wrath And Tears]

How the hell do they torque the axle bolt enough? Wouldn't the tire just spin, even if the car is on the ground?

Loving the convo between you and walky, had me laughing my ass off.

I will say that simply putting a screw driver in the rotor and bracing it against the caliper carrier works fine. I've torqued up to 210 ft lbs this way with no issues, that's the max torque I've encountered. Ours our like 75 ft lbs and 180 degrees or something like that so I have no idea what that actually equals in torque.

[redline380]

Loving the convo between you and walky, had me laughing my ass off.

That's how all of our conversations go.

[M-Hood]

Well it really depends how you plan to do it. One way is more work / less cost and the otherway way is less work / more cost. It all depends on whats available to you and how much work you feel like doing.

he can swap the center diff tail section while the transmission is on the car, so less work and less cost.

Just lift the back end of the car up so the tail end is up, unbolt the drive shaft, unbolt the tail section and swap other tail section on.
It is pretty easy to find a tail section with a good untouched center diff in them, just find a broken transmission. I have a hand full of them in my garage that came out of the six 01A transmissions I have broken in the past.

[Wrath And Tears]

he can swap the center diff tail section while the transmission is on the car, so less work and less cost.

Just lift the back end of the car up so the tail end is up, unbolt the drive shaft, unbolt the tail section and swap other tail section on.
It is pretty easy to find a tail section with a good untouched center diff in them, just find a broken transmission. I have a hand full of them in my garage that came out of the six 01A transmissions I have broken in the past.

Very true, that was my version of more work less cost. Forgetting that even if he bought a used trans without having to pull it would still require more work then simply swapping the diff.

[M-Hood]

Very true, that was my version of more work less cost. Forgetting that even if he bought a used trans without having to pull it would still require more work then simply swapping the diff.

You can't swap just the diff without pulling the tail section off seeing it is inside that part of the transmission, swapping just the tail section is actually less work since your doing way less work and seeing your only buying the tail section it ends up costing less then buying a whole transmission. You don't have to buy a whole transmission to get the part with the center diff inside it.

[Wrath And Tears]

You can't swap just the diff without pulling the tail section off seeing it is inside that part of the transmission, swapping just the tail section is actually less work since your doing way less work and seeing your only buying the tail section it ends up costing less then buying a whole transmission. You don't have to buy a whole transmission to get the part with the center diff inside it.

Cool I was simply calling the tail section including center diff, the diff, thanks for fully explaining for everyone.

Would the tail section technically be called the transfer case then?

[zevond]

You can't swap just the diff without pulling the tail section off seeing it is inside that part of the transmission, swapping just the tail section is actually less work since your doing way less work and seeing your only buying the tail section it ends up costing less then buying a whole transmission. You don't have to buy a whole transmission to get the part with the center diff inside it.

thanks for all the good info!! I've actually come across an unmolested center diff for the 01A so maybe I'll just sit on it until its time to pull the trans for other reasons and then do it then

[walky_talky20]

That's how all of our conversations go.

I can't tell if this is a good thing or not.

[M-Hood]

Cool I was simply calling the tail section including center diff, the diff, thanks for fully explaining for everyone.

Would the tail section technically be called the transfer case then?

Yes it could also be called that.