Broken in Spain!!!

[Nobby]

So, what would happen if you disconnected the prop?

At last years dyno day MRC were removing the props from the R8 to keep them rear drive only.

[Shoppinit]

That's what I'm curious about. Anyone want to jack up the back of their car to see if there's any drive at the front wheels?

[Nobby]

Would you be able to relay it home under your insurance? Years ago my dad had his Rover SD1 trailered all the way home from the bottom of Spain. It only had blocked jets in one of the carbs!

Something to bear in mind but probably doesn't apply - European relay cover often stipulates that if the total cost of the relay is more than the cost of the car then they might write off the car. Friends have found this the case when driving to Spa or the 'Ring and breaking something big. Shouldn't be the case for an RS6 though.

[star7]

It would work but you would stress the front diff putting all the traction through it. But depending on the fault in the diff it might not help as it will still turn from the wheels

[JCviggen]

As far as I can tell pulling the prop will not work. A Torsen diff has the distinct disadvantage that although it will send torque to the place of most resistance, it needs a minimum resistance unlike a clutch diff. Zero resistance means no torque transfer (que the embarassing vids shot by competing brands about Torsen Audi quattros getting "stuck" while their Haldex cars keep plowing on)

[JCviggen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvqQuC_8VrM (the solution here is ESP putting the brakes on the rear wheels - something which was clearly disabled in these "rigged" scenarios....but if you pull the prop all the ESP in the world can't help you)

[Shoppinit]

Excellent find, JC. I thought that might happen. There was one version of the Torsen diff that didn't do that, but I don't know if it's that one on the RS6.

Mmm. How about removing the rear shafts and welding the rear diff up?

[JCviggen]

I don't speak from experience on these cars, but removing the driveshaft completely could lead to your rear wheel bearings failing and the wheels literally falling off...they tend to be held together by a huge nut on the driveshaft in the case of driven wheels.

Otherwise welding the diff would indeed work, but that's getting fairly drastic and sourcing a used diff might be easier at that point.

[Shoppinit]

Yeah, I don't think any of these are practical solutions for the OP. Just curiosity, really.

True about the wheel bearings. You'd have to leave the stub in.

If the OP can get a diff sent out then why not have it fitted by a local garage? It's not a hard job. Failing that, it'll have to go on a transporter, but that can take weeks to get the car back and who knows what will happen to it in that time?

[bam_bam]

€4k to fix?!?! It's gotta be the Grizz method, it'd be cheaper to put the Grizz on an Sleazyjet Saturday night flight with a 2nd-hand diff, pay for his accommodation, food and piss (don't let him drink until the diff is on) and then fly him back late Sunday night.

I hear Grizz will fly halfway around the globe for free beer.

[lala]

Thanks for all the replies.
We thankfully have AA Euro cover and the car is gone, on its slow journey back to Blighty. They did ask what the insured value of the car was but have accepted that the car needs to be taken to the uk. We explained what the problem was and that the car had been to Audi at Gandia but due to the expensive quote to fix it, had decided that it needed to be relayed home. Apparently had we taken the car from the garage against their advice, then we were on our own.
So the car will taken to northern Spain and transferred to a French tow truck and again at euro tunnel for a British truck. The car has already been collected and is being stored at a secure compound, Audi at Gandia....had I known that in advance, I would have saved myself a lot of stress and not had a run in with the ever so helpful police. The long and the short of it is, don't crawl along the N332 with your hazards on, on the hard shoulder, past all the prostitutes because it looks like you're curb crawling!!!
The con of all of this is the " budget ", we are allowed £1200 for a replacement car but from that you have to allow £650 for my car to get home. I used the expression con because depending on who you talk to, depends on whether they inform you of this cost breakdown or not, so potentially ending up with a bill for car hire that you didn't know about until you tried returning one of the cars ( the hire cars work the same way as the relay does, so will have a dramatic effect on our return journey's schedule ).
The "flying" mechanic had been discussed as well, using my guy, but was deemed impractical due to the amount of tools etc that he'd have to try and cram into his hand luggage
A replacement diff has been purchased along with various ancillaries and awaits the return of my car. This will be a temporary fix until the internals of mine have looked at. If its financially viable to recon mine, the " new " diff will go on eBay , if not mine will go .

[Daveperc]

Glad you have a way forward at least.

Two thoughts:

- Surely easier/cheaper to use the replacement car to enjoy the rest of your holiday and then fly back with Ryan or similar to Stanstead??

- Keep track through AA where your car has got to. I discovered when mine was trailered from SW Wales to Banbury that unaccompanied vehicles get the lowest priority in the system as they put all the effort into the accompanied ones (for fairly obvious reasons). Mine sat just 5 miles from MRC for 48 hours before it was finally moved when I shouted at someone!

Good luck

Dave

[lala]

Glad you have a way forward at least.

Two thoughts:

- Surely easier/cheaper to use the replacement car to enjoy the rest of your holiday and then fly back with Ryan or similar to Stanstead??

- Keep track through AA where your car has got to. I discovered when mine was trailered from SW Wales to Banbury that unaccompanied vehicles get the lowest priority in the system as they put all the effort into the accompanied ones (for fairly obvious reasons). Mine sat just 5 miles from MRC for 48 hours before it was finally moved when I shouted at someone!

Good luck

Dave

Will be keeping on the AA's case until it arrives back in the UK. We can't fly as we travel with the pooch, one of the reasons we drive. Just have to see what happens....

[grizz]

I've got a spare diff i can ship to you ..

[lala]

I've got a spare diff i can ship to you ..

Sorry, only just seen this Thanks for the offer but all sorted now.