Right then… so, I may have enthusiastically launched my SEAT Altea Freetrack a bit harder than I should have, lol.
The result? The centre joint on the propshaft said "nope" and ejected its ball bearings all over the place like confetti at a mechanical wedding.
Managed to limp it home (2–4 miles) with it making some lovely grinding noises, pulled the shaft off, and found the bearing cage in the middle joint completely destroyed. Balls were out, cage in bits — proper mess.
Now, surely I don’t need to sell a kidney to buy a whole new propshaft for this? There must be a way to rebuild this centre U-joint (or CV joint?) without replacing the whole thing. I’ve been digging, and I think the full shaft part number is 1K0 521 101 H, which appears to be shared with some Golf 4Motion and Audi A3 Quattro models.
If anyone knows:
The result? The centre joint on the propshaft said "nope" and ejected its ball bearings all over the place like confetti at a mechanical wedding.
Managed to limp it home (2–4 miles) with it making some lovely grinding noises, pulled the shaft off, and found the bearing cage in the middle joint completely destroyed. Balls were out, cage in bits — proper mess.
Now, surely I don’t need to sell a kidney to buy a whole new propshaft for this? There must be a way to rebuild this centre U-joint (or CV joint?) without replacing the whole thing. I’ve been digging, and I think the full shaft part number is 1K0 521 101 H, which appears to be shared with some Golf 4Motion and Audi A3 Quattro models.
If anyone knows:
- Where I can get a rebuild kit or that centre joint
- Whether it's even serviceable
- Or just wants to laugh with me (or at me) for sending a propshaft to the shadow realm
