It's a known problem... what is your mileage? I'm assuming you're not under warranty anymore.

 

I seem to recall hearing about $1700 for that driveshaft replacement. They replace the entire driveshaft to replace the carrier bearing. I just went thru this under warranty at 48k miles.

Matt

 

Mileage is around 111K. My car was trouble free till 50K. After warranty is over it is falling apart. Go figure!

Is there danger of accident while driving if this isn't replaced immediately? The noise is there but it is not bad.

 

Yes

Once the bearing falls apart there is a chance you might see your shaft behind you if it hasnt already ended up beside you in the vehice.LOL
Been there done that and I was lucky that it did not do anything really bad like that.
You have to change it out or you will really regret it if you dont.
The good part is that it is just starting and you know about it.The bad part is that it can blow at any time and when it does...You will know.When the bearing goes out your shaft will beat itself onto the bottom off the vehicle and you wont be able to drive it.You will have to get it towed.

 

Dealer says I need the entire rear drive shaft replaced at $1200+Tax.

The money tree in my home isn't producing any green bills....

 

I'am not that familer with vw,but why a whole driveshaft,just for a carrier bearing?

 

The drive shaft and bearing are integrated for some reason. Judging by the number of these failures that have been posted here, that part was a weak point in the original design. On my 04, it went out at about 45k and was replaced under waranty in one day. They even overnighted the part in.

Rick

 

Thanks,wonder if they improved the later models.

 

Yes

There is a newer type of bearing and it is now made of mostly rubber.I had mine replace with one of these.I to am wondering how long it will last also.
​

 

I just had this done and it was about $1400. Mine started to make a thumping noise under acceleration. It completely gave out on a 350 drive home. I was about to make it the last 250 miles if I didn't accelerated too hard and kept it under 45mph. The good thing was that I got 34MPG on the rest of the drive home buy babying it the whole way. You can order the part on 12vwparts for about $821.27. Doesn't look too difficult to do yourself. Had mine done under the extended contract.

 

So were is this 12vwparts that i get the driveshaft for for about $821.27 ?????????
Any help would be apprecited.
nvega

I just had this done and it was about $1400. Mine started to make a thumping noise under acceleration. It completely gave out on a 350 drive home. I was about to make it the last 250 miles if I didn't accelerated too hard and kept it under 45mph. The good thing was that I got 34MPG on the rest of the drive home buy babying it the whole way. You can order the part on 12vwparts for about $821.27. Doesn't look too difficult to do yourself. Had mine done under the extended contract.

 

Mine has made a driveline noise for about 50,000 k's now. I asked the morons at my dealership to check it whilst under warranty and they never did. Now the noise is more pronounced. Could this bearing be the problem?

 

Possilbly. If you have it noted with your dealership and they said it was nothing (while under warrant)... I'd raise all kinds of hell to get them to pay for it if it is in fact bad.

 

I had mine replace last June, and they replace the whole thing. I only had 71K

 

hi everyone, looks like i may have the same problem, i have v10 2005, was driving home today and it just started with no warning, massive loud thumping come up centre of the car if i did a speed over 30mph :-(

does that sound familier? any reason why this would just go with no warning, the car has been great until this, no noise, lovely drive, i dont offroad much, strange it has just 'gone' with no warning? normal or not?

thanks
Darren

 

That's basically what happened to me. I would hear it thump a little if I accelerated real hard and then 2 days later it gave out all together.

 

well, fixed mine finally myself, wasnt to hard to do. i still have to find out the torque setting for the 6 bolts on the back diff, other than that its all back on, took for a short spin and all seems well only took about an hour to get off and get back on, would have been interested to know what garage would have charged for the labour on the job ;-) that was with me under the car and no ramp, without the right tools, on a ramp and with right tools and knowing a bit about cars I am sure VW could swap out in about 20 mins. cost 800 euro for the shaft, all because a bit of rubber had perished, come on VW, sort this out, its a major part on a car and a part that SHOULD not fail! its dented my confidence in the car now, i do some long, long drives around europe, not sure i will trust the car now, maybe time for a merc gl instead.

if anyone would like pics etc of what happens i have them can also let anyone who needs the info know how to swap out, its pretty simple.

 

well, fixed mine finally myself, wasnt to hard to do. i still have to find out the torque setting for the 6 bolts on the back diff, other than that its all back on, took for a short spin and all seems well only took about an hour to get off and get back on, would have been interested to know what garage would have charged for the labour on the job ;-) that was with me under the car and no ramp, without the right tools, on a ramp and with right tools and knowing a bit about cars I am sure VW could swap out in about 20 mins. cost 800 euro for the shaft, all because a bit of rubber had perished, come on VW, sort this out, its a major part on a car and a part that SHOULD not fail! its dented my confidence in the car now, i do some long, long drives around europe, not sure i will trust the car now, maybe time for a merc gl instead.

if anyone would like pics etc of what happens i have them can also let anyone who needs the info know how to swap out, its pretty simple.

Hi...could you please send me some pics and details?
davidmiami@gmail.com
Thank you

 

meant to ask, does anyone know the torque setting on the rear 6 screws where it goes into rear diff?
ta
D

 

Yes,they say to replace bolts,but the rear driveshaft to final drive flange is 30nm+90Degree(1/4 turn),hope thats what you wanted.

 

lovely thanks for speedy response

 

Replaced mine about two months ago and it cost me a grand for the drive shaft and I replaced it myself, realitive easy to do if you any mechanical skill. the retail price was almost 1300. I have my old shaft and I am going to send it to a local drive shaft shop to replace the carrier bearing and then I will post it for sale for 1/2 the cost of the stealership ones. I should have done that first and save the extra 500 and just drove one of my other cars.

 

i have my old shaft as well, if you find an address of a firm who recons them would you let me know? as i would like to get mine done, might just keep it as a spare incase... if this is a common fault you never know when you might need it ;-) ony my shaft it was the rubber on teh bearing that had come away from the rubber bracket that holds it to the car underside, not sure if thats the same fault everyone gets, so it would need new rubber on the bearing and in the bracket.

thanks
D

 

Hey nvega55 you asked about the drive shaft but I cannot email you back through the forums. Anyways I went to 1stvwparts and then went to Universals & rear axle, rear axle, propeller shaft(2nd). I was told by someone else here that was the entire assy. You should call to make sure though.

 

oops my bad. its 1stvwparts.com

 

For those of you who are not in warranty anymore you may want to try my solution. Why replace your drive shaft with another one that will fail at some point. It makes no since and it's expensive. If your like me you plan on keeping your Touareg.

The problem with the design is the ball and cage joint creates vibration at the carrier bearing causing premature failure of the bushing. This has been proven on a drive shaft balancing machine. So the solution is to remove that ball and cage design and replace it with a u-joint which is much stronger and balances perfectly. This is not a fix you can do yourself. It will have to goto a drive line shop that is familiar with Touareg/cayenne drive shafts. Of course the carrier bearing will have to be replaced but this is a much better solution. If you want me to handle having it rebuilt it will cost aound $650 plus shipping cost back to you. I will have mine back soon and take some installed pics. I do have a pic of the modification though.
http://www.longwater.com/dshaft.jpg

 

Love to know how this turned out



Could you let us all know how your repair has turned out?

I think this bug has finally hit me...

Thanks,

Geoff

 

Joined the ranks of center bearing failure. 138,00 klms. Had some high speed vibe thought it was wheel balance, the suddenly under load at slow speed big vibes in center of car. Got under and checked center bearing, toast. Car still under extended warranty only thing is they will want it in the shop .