Very well documented issue.

 

Yes, it is, which is very useful. But I've not come across it with owners down here (yet).

 

I tracked down the US supplier and the part is listed on eBay as Item number:140488851298. Cheap, if this is all that is required. What I want to know is if the 3.2 FSI has the same centre bearing carrier part as the 3.0 TDI. I'm not sure if the V8 or V10 use the same part. I'll email the seller anyway and ask a Q. If it is the same as the 3.2, then seems it would be worth the small $'s to get one (as sh1t always happens).
This looks to be the OEM part No: 7L0 521 407.

 

Hey Thanks you for info went to ebay I buy the part and instalet my self is no easy but I did manage to instalet and no more noise so thanks you.

 

Seller responded to eBay message in 5 mins! He say's the part fits the 3.0 TDI. It's on its way and I'm happy to pay $100 for peace of mind. Part to be kept as a spare with the Treg till I need it/get underneath and have a squiz at the state of mine. And yes, I'm a tad paranoid about crap like this happening...I spent too much time working on aircraft, so I know better than wait till it fails. I'm not going to rely on dealer servicing to pick something like this up on a service. Even if they did, I'd be paying a motza for it.

 

How are you going to get it changed out ?
I have been also watching it on eBay, but not sure if I can find competent shop to get it swapped out when time comes. It requires a press to disassemble the shaft and then balancing after they replace the bearing.

 

I'll read the DIY bits through. I know people in the motor trade, so I'll get it done at a cheap rate if any special requirements beyond my own mechanical skills. But, I'll have a look under a hoist and check the condition of mine now that I know what I'm looking for.

 

Hang on, I did a search through here and all I found (so far) was owner threads and comment about costly rectification after failure. That makes no sense to me. So, am I correct in deducing that there is a frequency of drive shaft centre carriers/bearings that fail (apparently prematurely), but they appear not to be checked during routine servicing? That cannot possibly be true - surely they are checked? Logically, if they were a planned maintenance item, then they'd be replaced at XYZ klms/miles. VW MTBF data should be picking this up. If the carrier or bearing fails before it was intended, then the feedback of data should indicate VW issuing a TSB for rectification at their cost. Of course, no maker wants the public to know MTBF if the figures mean out-of-warranty costs to the maker (thus, extra expense). Some owners have paid a high $ price for a replacement $50 part. I'd be happy for some feedback on this or correct me if I'm getting out of context with the thread.

 

Hi OILSLURPER, looks you've got a spare and wondering if it is the bearing only or the whole shaft? I followed it on EBAY while found it is only the bearing part. Not sure if I need the whole driveshaft.

 

The same problem was just identified on my 04 V6 3.2L Treg by the dealer. They suggest to replace the whole propshaft and they charge a lot on it.

It seems not a lot mechanicians had experience handling this.

 

It's a non repairable/ non maintainable item as far as VW is concerned and it's not checked on service.

The VW solution is a brand new - not even reconditioned - prop shaft at GB£800-1,000 for the repair.

The bearing replacement can be done by any comptetent transmission specialist or mechanic.

They fail around 60-80K miles.

Don't drive the car if it goes. You can damage the gearbox at GB£5,000 a pop.

 

So basically you crawl under the vehicle and grab ahold of the shaft near this bearing and try to wobble the shaft around. I gather that no to little (3mm) movement is OK and anything more is sign of wear. From what I gather it's the rubber that fails and not so much the bearing itself.

Also, I have yet to take a look at the prop shaft design, but on some cars (BMW 535I) you can unbolt the two sections of the prop shaft and the bearing then can be removed (pulled, or pressed) off and replaced. I would think that if you make sure that the two shaft pieces are indexed upon reassembly, that balancing wouldn't be needed? Perhaps I'm wrong, but I know as soon as mine begins to show signs of wear I'm going to DIY this fix and see if it works.

Does anyone have one of these shafts laying around they can post some pictures of the failure?

BTW, my 04 54K mile Touareg shows no signs of slop at the bearing... hope it lasts!

 

Do a search - quite few pix of failure and mods too.

 

Enter: drive shaft failure

first pic

http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=10497&d=1287020299

 

They sell the bearing separately on EBAY. Does that mean we can replace the bearing part ONLY, rather than the whole shaft?

AUDI Q7 AND VW TOUAREG DRIVESHAFT SUPPORT BEARING - eBay (item 140488851298 end time Jan-09-11 15:06:05 PST)

 

Hey, the other thing is this, this is not just a quirk with the Treg; it happens on other 4x4's and AWD's from what I've learnt. As I said, proper preventive maintenance (from VW servicing) should have picked this stuff up. These guys know when the fail (Mean Time Between Failure - MTBF). If for eg, the MTBF (from collected service/repair/warranty data) is 60,000 odo clicks, then they should be pulled at say, 50,000 odo clicks. It's a cheap fix compared to failure and the sh1t hitting the fan after it fails. Make sense?

 

Sorry mate but I still maintain that a centre bearing failure @ 50-60000km is WAY premature unless you've jacked the car up off the chassis to make the angle it's working at too great but it's a bit hard on a Treg as there isn't one. It should last 160-200 at least , really normal expectations would be more like 300000km and failure before that is a design fault to be covered by the manufacturer regardless of age of vehicle!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just my 2 bob's worth, John.

 

Just called a dealership in newmarket, Canada - the "updated design" propshaft is running at $960

The parts guy didnt like my "known issue" comment - but did volunteer that it is an updated design, with a new part number.

 

No, you don't need a new shaft but that's all VW will offer - I've asked the factory.

Yes, just the bearing can be replaced if you or your mechanic knows what you or they are doing.

Yes, it is crap design and quality.

No, VW won't do anything about it - I've asked the factory.

 

Any suggestions on where to get the replacement bearing? (not interested in the "hamburg technik" made in the city of germany, China)

 

(not interested in the "hamburg technik" made in the city of germany, China)

What do you mean by that comment? This is the web url wher I obtained the part as manufactured (through an eBay seller):
http://www.hamburgtechnic.com/

Where does the "China" comment fit in here? The part looks genuine German to me. Are you saying that there is a "Hamburg technik", with the "k" in place of the "c". If that is the case, then members here need to be aware that there may a shonky seller of inferior parts.

This is the seller store (nothing here to worry me with their feedback):
http://stores.ebay.com/Deutsche-Parts-USA

 

Yes, the bearing is rubbish and VW aren't interested!

 

My appologies for the spelling error.... Hamburg Technic.

I too dealt with the same e-bay seller, they are excellent to deal with.

Maybe someone can source out a SKF or *** bearing. When the labour cost far exceeds the part cost, it is much cheaper in the long run to pay for the better part.

 

Maybe someone can source out a SKF or *** bearing. When the labour cost far exceeds the part cost, it is much cheaper in the long run to pay for the better part.

I can't totally concur with the bearing being the culprit here. The rubber carrier 'falling apart' looks to be the root cause from what's mainly being reported in the thread/s. It's not too dissimilar with a typical engine mount failure, stemming from rubber fatigue. That seems evident to the extent that gradual rubber disintegration leads to bearing failure, then the drive shaft craps itself. Cause and effect more or less. Now that I have examined the new part, the rubber acts as a lateral force shock absorber, so it is under constant load during power train transmission. The bearing absorbs the radial thrust load (rotation). My lesson so far is to have a new carrier with bearing in my possession and play it safe - I'm gonna need it maybe sooner, rather than later I suspect. Either way, I will replace it when I detect fatigue in the rubber. As I said in past post, I'm a tad paranoid about this - it's easy to prevent after reading the forum threads.

 

I think your analysis of what actually happens is spot on though I defend the use of the all encompassing "centre drive [or prop] shaft bearing failure" since this is the combined purpose of the three parts [steel mounting plate, rubber bush, bearing] and because you cannot buy them separately.

My shaft failed after a prolonged deep water wading session when muck got into the bearing through the failed rubber.

 

Hi Alex,
Could you please tell us how that shaft comes apart and what equipment is required to reassemble.
Thanks.

 

frist is not easy. Remove the hole shaft fron the truck, then fron the front to the back you will see the bearing behind the bearing there is a round looking thing thas the union it has a line in the middel all the way around whit a flat head scwerd driver and a hammer biterd fron the back to the front in the middel line. Ones is out cleand all the grease and try to find a clib that you have to opend and whit a puller at te same time ones is out there is another clib then pull out the bearing whit a Hydraulic press put the new one in whit the press and everting else.

Like I said sond easy but is not took me like 3 hours to figuretout is not easy but it can be dont and wacht out for the balls in the union if they fallout is a paind to get them back in. Best of luck.

 

Hi All,

Just clocked 118000km, so far so good. After reading this thread and heading to the high Country for a few days, it's got me thinking.

Are there any signs or early warning sounds experienced, please share those.

I will get under the vehicle now and check for any wear and tear. However I did ask VW dealer to check all my drive chain each time I have a service.

The last major was 105000km just before the big Simpson Desert trip, and I was reliably informed the V10 was in very healthy condition, but do wonder if they check everything.

I would like to read feedback from others who may have checked their bearing and found any movement/wear, it would be good to compare notes.

It might be a good investment to replace it with a new bearing anyway, any where in Aus where this can be purchased, other then a stealer, oops dealer? Fitting is easy.


Best wishes for the season.

Regards

Gerald

 

It might be a good investment to replace it with a new bearing anyway, any where in Aus where this can be purchased, other then a stealer, oops dealer? Fitting is easy.

My thought exactly...that being, I have the part in my possession.....it's comforting like a snuggy blanket.........sure enough if this thread is true, the bearing carrier is going to go...........kaboombut I'll get to the little fester first.

 

Hi again,

I have attached 2 photos of the drive shaft bearing at 118000km. Looks in healthy condition and the movement is equal all around with no physical damage, yet.

The bearing is housed in a rubber casing which is quite soft, therefore and lateral movement is rubber movement. There is no bearing slack.

I am satisfied that my bearing is good for quite a few kays.

From reading and the posting of several photos, two things could occur, the bearing fails and ceases up and will start to spin in it's rubber housing, this simply rips the whole assemble apart.

I suggest a periodic check, once/month should be enough to indicate wear. You can also rotate the drive shaft left/right, this should tell you the state of the bearing if its free or tight.

I suspect any bearing noise will never be heard as the rubber will absorb much of the noise.

Regards

Gerald

 

Hi I thit not see coming or filet one day start sonding whe I start loocking the rubber around the bearing was crack and it have movement all the way around
up down left and right thas all I can tell you. Best of luck

 

VIO Downunder - have a squizz at the US thread I linked a few posts back and view the pic of the carrier when it's fully cactus.....yours looks OK to me from your pic. I think the frequent inspection of the carrier will result in early detection of rubber fatigue...then you change it....that's what I'm planning on doing. Either that, or I do it at 100,000 klms. It's cheap part to to keep in the vehicle, that way you got it if it does fail away from home.

 

I will buy from epay, aud$70 delivered a cheap part to keep. Maybe a small Aussie group buy?

My running gera has been extremely reliable, i am surprised with all the dust and sand driving, the thrust bearing has lasted.

I am quite relaxed now that I know it's fine. A monthly inspectin is on my check list.

Regards

Gerald

 

Here's another forum link on a similar US thread:

http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f62/drive-shaft-bush-2004-v6-18519.html

note posts #8 through to #12 - interesting!!

My opinion is still to replace the carrier and bearing and get it early. It's cheaper and easier IMO.

 

I was talking with a 2004 V10 owner from the Gold Coast this arvo and his centre bearing carrier failed at 70,000 klms. $800 to dealer fix!!