ianwelch

The CV boots on both sides of the car are completely severed. Which means that grease is coming out and dirt and debris are getting in. Which means the CV shaft will break at some point in the future.

My question is since I have an AWD vehicle if I have the mechanic take the CV shaft off, will it make the car undriveable? Meaning is the CV shaft a load bearing item? From what I can tell, the A-Arm(or whatever it's called) takes the majority of the load. The CV shaft is only to provide spinning motion for the wheel and not to provide load bearing support. Although I could be wrong.

I have power coming from the rear wheels, so I can only see the front CV shafts as a luxury to provide traction for snow or adverse whether. Or even to provide for a better handling ride under sporty conditions.

The reason I want to do this is because the Audi dealer is the only one with the shafts in stock and it's going to run me nearly $1200 total for both the left and right replacement. I figure if I can take both front shafts off but the car will still operate normally, why replace them when I don't have to. The car has 200k+ miles and is near the end of it's life. I need to make it to the end of the payments and can't see dumping money into something I'm going to get rid of in a year. Or less.

sbh tuned

<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/">https://forums.audiworld.com/a8/</a</li></ul>

PaulW

<ul><li><a href="http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articles/susp_whls_brake_steer/axlereplacement.html">Post on the D2 forum</a></li></ul>

tozoM8

Its a full time all wheel drive. You can't drive it if there is only two axles connected.