VR6 axle swap 'How To'

[milehighassassin]

There is a thread about it somewhere...

 

[DbLog]

I looked and looked with no success. The vibration isn't in the steering wheel and only happens at those rpm's regardless if I'm on the throttle or not. I'm going to take a peek to make sure there's nothing obviously wrong. Chances are I'm in the market for some hollow axles.

 

[drkblujetta]

Have you broken OEM axles yet?

Yes, they are more stout. When you are pushing almost 170hp & almost 300 lbs/ft of torque, the OEM parts don't seem to do well. As you can see from the bolt sizes, these axles are more durable under the extra stress imposed on them by the increased power

 

[Satiro]

I want to upgrade my axles... is absolutely necessary to make a 5 lugs conversion for to mount it in a 1998 TDI? is there other kind of axles(stronger than stock old tdi axles) that fits in a old TDI?

 

[milehighassassin]

raxles?

 

[DbLog]

I'm pretty sure theirs are solid. I'm gonna get ahold of some tubes and see if that helps. Are the vr6 axles the same as 1.8t's?

raxles?

 

[drkblujetta]

Has anyone actually broken factory shafts??

 

[DbLog]

I found a bunch when I searched

Has anyone actually broken factory shafts??

 

[drkblujetta]

I did search and found a few.......Thanks

But I am wondering if this is the weakest link with "power enhancements" in the driveline.

Or have people consistantly broken these axles heavily modded

 

[mkosem]

I busted an inner CV with only Sprint 764s on. I'd think it might be a bit of a trip to pop the shafts themselves. They look pretty hefty. Do the VR6 CVs fit on the TDI shafts?

--Matt

 

[DbLog]

Just finished putting in a hollow axle from a 1.8t on the passenger side. The vibrations are gone!!

Did the swap today!! Thanks for the write up Wingnut. Put in solid axles from diveshaft.com and have a small vibration at 1800 rpm and it's worse between 3400-3800. Another post

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=173650

mentions solid axles might not be the best idea. Has anyone else come across problems using solid axles? I'm pretty damn sure they were installed correctly.

 

[CarlUman]

I'm sure this is not going to be the most popular how to I have ever done as it is limited to those who may have monster power upgrades. But I hope it helps those of you whe were thinking of undertaking this project.

I thinking about it so thanks

 

[LNXGUY]

Just finished putting in a hollow axle from a 1.8t on the passenger side. The vibrations are gone!!

I have hollow 1.8T shafts waiting to go in on both sides.. Maybe I'll drop them in this weekend, but while I am down there, I should do both LCA bushings and maybe the tierods...

 

[MAXRPM]

I am trying to upgrade my axles to VR6 or 1.8T in my TDI, but when calling the wrecking yard, they ask me all kinds of questions like what year is the VR6 is it Manual or automatic? could someone plese tell me what year I should be asking for the VR6 or 1.8t so I could buy these axles,, thanks a million,

 

[Wingnut]

2000-2004 manual transmission

 

[MAXRPM]

2000 to 2004 Vr6 and 1.8T manual tranny,, so now I have a choice if I can't find VR6 axles, then I could ask for the 1.8T axles,, Thanks a millon Wingnuts

 

[mannytranny]

The axle's on the auto trans VR6/18T are different?

 

[milehighassassin]

The axle's on the auto trans VR6/18T are different?

yes

 

[mannytranny]

Ah.....so close.

MHA, did you ever get your vibration problem fixed? Was it the CV's?

 

[milehighassassin]

Ah.....so close.

MHA, did you ever get your vibration problem fixed? Was it the CV's?

I am not sure of the vibration you are referring to??

I had a vibrating noise, but nothing that changed how the car felt. The noise was from my EGR flex pipe cracking.

 

[mannytranny]

Ooops.....I think it was mydeathbynapalm who had the problem.

I get those long names confused from time to time....

 

[hutchman]

Since I'm about to take the entire front of my car apart (the A4), I'm thinking of going ahead and doing a VR6 axle swap.

What are pro's/cons to VR6 vs 1.8T axles?

Have many who have done the VR6 swap had problems with resonance at certain RPM's?

Just wondering what the latest conventional wisdom on this swap is before I jump in.

I'm also interested in doing a Peloquin since I'll also have the tranny out doing a clutch and would like to know what all I should do to the tranny while it is out.

 

[DbLog]

Don't use a solid passenger side axle and you should be ok.

 

[milehighassassin]

I really don't see the point unless you are planning some decent power.

 

[bencarr23]

everyone wants more power in the end. I have 1.8t's in my car they are the same thing i think.

 

[hutchman]

Don't use a solid passenger side axle and you should be ok.

Are the VR6 or 1.8t axles solid??? They don't look like they are.

 

[hutchman]

I really don't see the point unless you are planning some decent power.

... got more than decent power now. Planning on more. Is there ever enough?

Now I want to use the power without being concerned about breaking something.

 

[milehighassassin]

... got more than decent power now. Planning on more. Is there ever enough?

Now I want to use the power without being concerned about breaking something.

If you are that is great. For a chipped car on the stock turbo the OEM's will be fine.

If you are going Big Turbo, full exhaust, proper tuning and injectors, then it might be worth considering.

For me the TDI is the daily and as of right now I am still on stock programming. I do plan on eventually going Alligator, probably a full exhaust, but I doubt I will do much more. If the turbo goes for the 2nd time I will probably upgrade to a VNT17, but even then I think the stock axles will be fine.

 

[seninho]

installing my vr6 axles next week.

 

[TDIinTexas]

I'm showing remans for $70.00 for the left and $74.00 for the right. So I would shop around before going to the wrecking yard. That's VR6 for the left and 1.8T for the right.

David