"swapping sides?" can i buy more time on my axles?
08-11-2006, 01:06 PM
#1
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"swapping sides?" can i buy more time on my axles?
my pass. side half shaft is clickin like crazy, but money is tight and i leave for germany in 8 days already with no money. i will deffinitely replace them when i get back but for now its just sitting in my garage. since i will still be paying insurance for the three weeks im gone, letting it sit for a 4th week completely wastes the outrages amount of money i spend on insurance.
while i did a search about replaceing axles i found a mention of "swapping sides" and how it is not a permanent fix but will buy me time. what exactly is "swapping sides" with my axles? does it mean swapping the right axle to the left and vica versa or just turning around the axle 180 degrees so the cvs are at dfferent spots? if i do this can i still drive it for a week? or is this a stupid idea?
while i did a search about replaceing axles i found a mention of "swapping sides" and how it is not a permanent fix but will buy me time. what exactly is "swapping sides" with my axles? does it mean swapping the right axle to the left and vica versa or just turning around the axle 180 degrees so the cvs are at dfferent spots? if i do this can i still drive it for a week? or is this a stupid idea?
08-11-2006, 01:41 PM
#2
Nordschleife Master
Swapping side (left axel to right side and vice versa) changes the faces inside the CV joint that are used in acceleration. Flipping and axel over while keeping it on the same side makes it turn the other direction but the same faces are being used.
If it's clicking, I think it's too late already. Worth a shot, though.
If it's clicking, I think it's too late already. Worth a shot, though.
08-11-2006, 02:11 PM
#4
Mine had a slight click for about a mile and thats when I decided to swap them. I pulled them out and took all the bearings out and cleaned all the components etc.. and reinstalled everything with new grease along with swapping the axles to the opposite sides so that they turned in the opposite direction as before, and I haven't had a problem with them since. That was about 5k ago.
08-11-2006, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Rich Sandor
Too much work for too little gain. If you're gonna be removing them you may as well install new ones.
08-11-2006, 02:39 PM
#6
Under the Radar
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I regreased my clunking ones and they've been fine for 1 1/2 years. Messy job, but it works. They're VW parts, so they aren't overly complex, nor do they break down as easily as the 944-exclusive stuff. 
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08-11-2006, 03:20 PM
#8
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they have already been swapped sides....PO said one was clicking slightly every once in awhile so i swapped them when i had the rear suspension out. Didnt click when i had it but if it is now, you may want to try to grease them up abit or find another. You can grease them easily by putting a piece of brake line or something on the end of a grease gun and shoving it up under the boot. Make sure you use the grey/black grease stuff meant for axels.
08-11-2006, 04:42 PM
#9
Drifting
FYI-
You can buy rebuilt halfshaft assemblies for less than $100 per side from Autozone and similar stores. Not as good as new parts but they are 1/3 the price and are a huge impovement over your busted parts.
You can buy rebuilt halfshaft assemblies for less than $100 per side from Autozone and similar stores. Not as good as new parts but they are 1/3 the price and are a huge impovement over your busted parts.
08-11-2006, 04:55 PM
#10
Race Director
Originally Posted by Ghost944
what im saying is i cannot afford to replace them until i get back from my trip. so its either A: i dont do anything, and let the car just sit for the next month or B: i swap sides and am able to drive it for the next week
If you can't afford a new half-axle, then you can't afford the cost that you will incurr when you hit something hard on the right side of your car when your axle ceases to work and your car jerks to the passenger side when you least expect it. (Wow - that was a fun run-on sentence!)
-Z
08-11-2006, 05:05 PM
#11
The Impaler
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Mine had started clicking about 45 minutes away from my home, and got progressiely worse. I drove the car conservatively hoping to make it home without trouble, but one of them popped getting into 2nd gear. I didnt feel any jerk at all, did I get lucky? I always thought that it just meant a loss of power and thats all. I replaced both entire axel assemblies and all is well now.
08-11-2006, 07:42 PM
#12
Race Director
Given Lorax's story, imagine what could happen is you suddenly loose power to one side of the car. At full throttle at around 60mph. Got the picture? Good - then don't drive the car until you can replace the CV joint.
-Z
-Z
08-11-2006, 08:05 PM
#13
The Impaler
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Im wondering what stopped mine from swirving? Was it the LSD somehow? It makes no sense! maybe I just wasnt heavey enough on the throttle to overpower the traction on the limp side.
08-16-2006, 06:10 PM
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update:
for giggles i took her around the neighborhood, then up the street, probbably abt 3 miles total, and it didnt make a sound. is it possible i just had a stone or stick or something lodged somewhere making that sound? given what Dan said i'd assume they need replacing, but why would it stop clicking now?
for giggles i took her around the neighborhood, then up the street, probbably abt 3 miles total, and it didnt make a sound. is it possible i just had a stone or stick or something lodged somewhere making that sound? given what Dan said i'd assume they need replacing, but why would it stop clicking now?