AussieA8Q

Hi guys,

Long time reading, first post.

I recently developed a clunking in the front right of my 96 A8Q 4.2 on deceleration, and after pulling off the right, inner CV boot, there seems to be a fair bit of movement in there, so I'm hunting down a new drive shaft, or inner joint.

I called the dealership who quoted me $820 for just the inner joint and shaft attached, and a 3 week wait...which is insane.

Looking online no one in Australia sells anything for this car, let alone driveshafts. In the States however I've found plenty of complete drive shafts including inner and outer joints for under US$80 each, and can be delivered in 5 days! (thats more like it!)...but although they say they are for the ABZ model, they are 1997 models, not 1996, and I know from previous investigations that the US didnt have the A8 before 97, and had only 5 speed transmissions, and never a 4 speed.

These are the ones I'm looking at:

cardone.com
034motorsport.com

Can any one shed light on whether these are the same parts that I need? *fingers crossed*

Any help is appreciated!!

Thank you

-Mike

Windlass34

I found in the catalog that both 1996 and 1997 were made in AAH,AEJ,ABZ,AEM,AGH variants using the below mentioned front right CVs. I believe you are free to use 1997 CV on your 1996 A8Q. Please consult the following:

1996:
4gear AT 4D0407272L 4D-S-000 001>>
AAH,AEJ,ABZ,AEM,AGH

4gear AT 4D0407452CX 4D-S-000 001>>
AAH,AEJ,ABZ,AEM,AGH


1997:
4gear AT 4D0407272M 4D-R-002 000*
AAH,AEJ,ABZ

4gear AT 4D0407272L 4D-S-000 001>>*
AAH,AEJ,ABZ,AEM,AGH

AussieA8Q

Thanks for your help on that.

I have since found that 4speed boxes matched to a ABZ engine will be the same, but its the fact all the shafts I've found are 97 models from the US...meaning they are 5speed transmissions, as US never had a 4 speed. A European 97 will have the 4speed but finding a stockist online is hard...

I'll keep looking

Thanks again.

Builder22

Hey there,

Why not give these guys a call - A8Parts http://stores.shop.ebay.co.uk/a8parts__W0QQ_armrsZ1 - they are UK based, and really know their stuff. I've always found them very reasonable - if something is not listed online it doesn't mean they don't have it.

Hope this helps

Ozie

Hi fellow Aussie, try CV Joint Aust Pty Ltd at 3 Alexander St. Auburn tel: 97437788. They have outer joints for $50 and same for inners but as there are two types would need to see the car. I recall they do a complete install of reconditioned drive shaft for $150 ish so worth a call. Good luck.

AussieA8Q

@Builder22
Thanks mate, I had seen these guys on eBay before, but assumed they only had what was listed in stock. I received an email back from them saying they are currently out of stock of my type of shaft, but might get more in. I'm getting a few other hard to find bits and pieces from them, so not a total loss

@Ozie
Thanks for those details, someone in Australia will save the $200-$300 freight I've been quoted. I'll contact them now and see what they can do


I'm still not convinced 100% its a inner CV...its turned into more of a thobbing sound, (with some clunking thrown in) when I decelerate. Noise is related to road speed, not rpms, so its something from the output shaft to the hub...maybe a bearing. Also doesnt change with cornering at all. I'll be stripping it totally this weekend, so we'll see. Using it in my wedding in a few weeks, so pressures on lol

Thanks fellas.

Ozie

You might also investigate whether your hemisphere in the differential is sheared in two peices! I regrettably had a clunking noise before Christmas which sounded like a bad CV, made a clunk-clunk noise realted to raod speed and found it was in the differential. This was replaced with a hemisphere from a wrecked diff as I was having my transmission rebuilt. I hope this isn't the case for you but think you may have to be open for this possibilty if there is no obvious CV issue.