Blown CV boots :(

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

What a neat thing with same axles left and right to swap.

Yes, rear engine, rear wheel drive transaxle. Same axles left vs. right. I even think that the inner and outer CV joints were the same, and it would have been possible to flip an axle inner-vs-outer, but that would not have solved the problem since the torsion would still be in the same direction. Flipping left vs. right does switch the direction of torsion, so the bearing surface contact points change enough to hopefully move to a fresh spot.

Since I'm already way off track , I'll add that on my old 911, the CV axles are similarly identical left-vs.-right, but they are marked to indicate left vs. right to make sure that if they are removed and replaced they go back on the same side. Apparently, metallurgical changes occur after being torqued (from driving forward) one way for a long time - and after that it's not good to go back the other way. Important stuff for a Porsche, not such a concern for a VW, at least to get home.