cuatrokoop

Looks like both(!) outer CV boots are torn on the 3.6 based on the grease I saw. I would assume that it will be similar to changing the other Audis, remove the axle nut, remove the inner joint bolts, crank the wheel one direction and work the axle out. Biggest difference is that the Q7 uses an outer with a threaded axle "stud" versus female threads for a bolt. My old 5kq gave me fits getting the axle out because of that, the A4 and A6 I could replace the boot in an hour or so, start to finish. Maybe my search function and internet searches are broken, but I could not find anyone who posted a DIY or helpful hints. The Bentley doesn't show removing the axle from the car under the CV boot/joint section.

cuatrokoop

Bentley is not lying, have to dismantle pretty much the whole front suspension to get the axle free. I had time today to do a quick boot job on both sides, and the parts/tools to do that. I do not have time between now and our road trip to do a more involved job. I've tackled much more involved projects in the garage (auto to manual swap on my old V8 quattro, 10vt and 20vt rebuilds, etc), so it's purely a time thing, unfortunately.

Edd W

It seems that the Q7, Touareg and Cayenne maybe the first VAG cars to have outer CV joint boots which actually last a reasonable time.

I have replaced many on most VAG car platforms - Golfs, Seats, many Audi's etc... but the Q7 is still on its original ones all round, inner and outer!

I expect mine will wait until the winter before the fail - that would be just my luck!

cuatrokoop

I was surprised, because the 3.6 only has 57k miles, but the grease slinging is a tell-tale. The 4.2 has 90k and the boots have been fine. Go figure...

Edd W

I think if the car is left parked with the wheels other than straight, it reduces CV boot life considerably - maybe that's an issue with the regular driver of your 3.6?

cuatrokoop

Parking space at work and in the driveway (garage has the 4.2 Q7 and my old Coupe Q project), wheels point straight ahead. The 3.6 was a repo, which is how I got it so cheap, but there is a period of time that is questionable in it's history because of that owner and the repo process (from the paperwork left in the car, it took months to get the car back, then it sat for months, was moved then parked again, moved and parked). In a year, it only had a couple thousand miles put on it.

smith2010Q7

On the Q7 went don't replace the axle a lot cause on how it is built. You pretty much have to removed the front suspension. What we do now is inspect the axle brngs, if are good and not a lot of play we used a special tool to open the boot and slide it over the axle, then slap some grease tie it up.

What the tool looks like, not advertisement to buy. There better ones out there to buy.

Audi Q7 3.6L Drivetrain Tools CV Boot - BS-125 - Air Powered CV Boot Installer - ES#1899405

cuatrokoop

I actually have one of those tools ;-) But I don't have the rest of the stuff I now need to replace the boots. I'd be golden if this were just my A4 or A6, or even my CoupeQ.