RS4 Driveshaft popped out!!!!!

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flylife2k
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RS4 Driveshaft popped out!!!!!

Post by flylife2k » Thu Nov 20, 2014 12:06 am

I've owned my RS4 for about 4 months now, it's not a daily drive, so here's what just happened..

Was out last night with my daughter in the back, traffic was heavy approx 15:00 and I was stationary at lights, lights went green so off I go.. car barely moved I would say a couple of car lengths and I hear slight crunching and instantly thought I had drive over something but the sound persisted, then I thought my undertray had come off but the sound just got worse so I was forced to pull over just at the edge of a cross junction. By now only a few seconds had lapsed, I then realised this was a dangerous spot to stop so thought I would exit the junction and pull over safely when all of a sudden a plume of white smoke started belching out from under the hood - fearing for the worse I was about to get my daughter out of the car when the smoke resided, phew, so I decided to stay in the car and not get out at the main junction.

Fortunately a police officer just happen to drive past and pulled over next to me asking if everything was ok, really nice chap. As the car was in a dangerous spot he called for backup so they could push the car a few yards to a nearby bus stop (lucky again I guess). The police officer pointed out there was oil on the floor and a few 'bits and pieces' on the road which he retrieved for me. Initially thinking engine damage, but lookat at the bits he retrieved I noticed a circular metal tie clip which I have seen may times before, normally used to faster CV boot gaitor so straight away i'm thinking driveshaft.

There was also a spline head bolt, threads were warped - odd. I have seen these bolts before on an Octavia used to fasten driveshafts to the gearbox, this together with the small amount of clear oil on the road I summised it was the DS. Never owned a VAG before but these are bolted on so how did it come off??

Popped the hood and all 'looked' ok, managed to have the car recovered back home but whilst it was on the back of the recovery truck I managed to take this picture from behind the nearside wheel...

Image

I have fitted a few driveshafts before but ones that are usually held in place with a circlip, these Audi DS's are supposed to be fixed aer'nt they??? Ok but they're not supposed to 'just'come out... and then there's the white smoke which lasted for about 10 seconds, a couple of them where I thought it was going to go up in smoke. Now my recovery guy says it should not be that bad however i'm not too sure. The one bolt I managed to recover was warped and the corresponding holes in\from the picture of the gearbox (?) also look a little warped from what I can see. I've had a look at the RS4 gearbox picture from the parts catalogue and the piece it bolts onto on the gearbox seems like it is part of the gearbox however if you look a little further a field the bigger part looks like it is bolted onto the gearbox (although I cannot find this part listed separately). The only thing I can put it down to at the moment is ill fitted driveshaft previously but there was never any indication that it would just go like that.

Image
Image

Does anyone know if this gearbox mating part I am referring to can be replaced independently? Still cant believe this has happened although I cant thank god enough that it was not in a worse situation, has been booked in with an independent specialist. Forgot to mention there was also a 'broken'' metal piece which apparently one of the bolts goes through (hope this is the driveshaft and not the gearbox)

Really sorry for all the rambling chaps
I will try to get a pic of the parts I salvaged up too

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docurley
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Re: RS4 Driveshaft popped out!!!!!

Post by docurley » Thu Nov 20, 2014 7:40 am

From what I can see and what I can workout is that the bolts were not tightened correctly and they worked there way out (had this issue myself) when I had this mine was easy as I lost drive and needed to just retighten the bolts. In you're case from what you have said it sound like the bolts may have ripped out in some places which could be an issue.

I would contact the people who fitted the drive shaft and see what they have to say and get them to look at it.
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flylife2k
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Re: RS4 Driveshaft popped out!!!!!

Post by flylife2k » Thu Nov 20, 2014 12:07 pm

Its been 4 months and i'm certain he will deny any work on the car, will still ring him though, devastated - hope the plate on the gearbox is replaceable

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Re: RS4 Driveshaft popped out!!!!!

Post by rocket1 » Thu Nov 20, 2014 1:54 pm

the smoke you seen would have been whats flicked onto the exhaust burning off that you can see in your picture.. not sure where the oil has come from though if only the flange has come loose. just hope it has,nt damaged the casing as it come off!!
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docurley
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Re: RS4 Driveshaft popped out!!!!!

Post by docurley » Thu Nov 20, 2014 3:06 pm

Well if you're lucky and Audi still use the same flange system as they did on the B5 then the Flange on the gearbox will just pop-out and the new one pushed in, the oil may just have been the grease but to be honest it does look like oil not grease but then the gator should have been packed with it and it could have melted from the exhaust.

The problem with the flange is that you might not be able to buy one without the gearbox so you may need to ring about or see if the S4 box carries the same flange.
Last edited by docurley on Thu Nov 20, 2014 5:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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SuprSi
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Re: RS4 Driveshaft popped out!!!!!

Post by SuprSi » Thu Nov 20, 2014 4:33 pm

If the flange hasn't been mis-shapen could you simply drill and tap it out to the next size up? Might be a simple option if you're looking at a lot of labour & money to replace lots of parts.
Last edited by SuprSi on Thu Nov 20, 2014 6:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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flylife2k
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Re: RS4 Driveshaft popped out!!!!!

Post by flylife2k » Thu Nov 20, 2014 6:35 pm

you guys are correct, the mechanic has phoned me back and informed me it's repairable and the white smoke is most likely from the oil on the exhaust (gearbox oil)

He has informed me the whole piece the driveshaft bolts onto is warped\knackered but fortunately he can get that piece direct from Audi to bolt directly onto the gearbox. He has just checked and it is apparently on back order, but he estimates a week (poss a couple) waiting time. I’m not in a rush as it’s not a daily drive for me, just glad it can be repaired. All else looks ok fortunately. Will hopefully be going down on Saturday to have a look and a chat, i’ll try to get some more pictures

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docurley
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Re: RS4 Driveshaft popped out!!!!!

Post by docurley » Fri Nov 21, 2014 12:46 am

Well I'm glad it's looking a cheaper job than it was sounding.
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edge
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Re: RS4 Driveshaft popped out!!!!!

Post by edge » Mon Nov 24, 2014 12:12 pm

Reading the post and looking at the pics, I didnt know where this was going, glad its a easier fix than!

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