Safe to drive with no driveshaft/rear diff?

[ETK-kAos]

Hey, I have a 96 TSI AWD that needs a new rear diff. Currently it has the drive shaft and rear diff removed (long story), is it okay to drive it like this as a FWD until I can get a new rear diff?

Thanks,
Anthony

 

[JusMX141]

If you have a welded center diff, sure.

 

[jtmcinder]

/thread

 

[ETK-kAos]

If you have a welded center diff, sure.

What if I don't?

 

[bradselph]

What if I don't?

Say goodbye to the viscous coupler.

 

[bryanwheat]

What if I don't?

Than it will burn up the viscous coupler in the transmission. Quit being cheap.

 

[ETK-kAos]

Say goodbye to the viscous coupler.

Thank you, that is what I needed to know. Is there any way to tell if it has already been damaged? The story on the car is such...

I bought my stock TSI in January of 04 with 110k miles and put 10k miles on it over the course of about 2 years. It needed a clutch and power steering pump and a friend of mine offered to buy it off of me. I sold it to him letting him make payments but in the end he couldn't afford it and returned the car to me with the rear diff, axles, and drive shaft removed. The rear diff is toast but I have no idea how long it was like that or how much they drove it with it removed. The car has been sitting in my driveway for a few years now and I would really like to get it going and build it into the DSM I always wanted. I don't know too much about working on cars but I am learning as I go.

If there was damage done from it being driven like that, can I just get it welded now?

 

[bryanwheat]

Thank you, that is what I needed to know. Is there any way to tell if it has already been damaged? The story on the car is such...

I bought my stock TSI in January of 04 with 110k miles and put 10k miles on it over the course of about 2 years. It needed a clutch and power steering pump and a friend of mine offered to buy it off of me. I sold it to him letting him make payments but in the end he couldn't afford it and returned the car to me with the rear diff, axles, and drive shaft removed. The rear diff is toast but I have no idea how long it was like that or how much they drove it with it removed. The car has been sitting in my driveway for a few years now and I would really like to get it going and build it into the DSM I always wanted. I don't know too much about working on cars but I am learning as I go.

If there was damage done from it being driven like that, can I just get it welded now?

If they tries to drive it like that than it would pretty much toast the coupler the first time you tried to drive it. It will also completely destroy the rear wheel bearings without the axles installed. If the rear wheels bearings are still together and not completely separated from the car than it likely wasn't driven.

 

[ETK-kAos]

If they tries to drive it like that than it would pretty much toast the coupler the first time you tried to drive it. It will also completely destroy the rear wheel bearings without the axles installed. If the rear wheels bearings are still together and not completely separated from the car than it likely wasn't driven.

Well, I know it was at least driven some, how much I don't really know. Is there anything I can do to at least make it drivable until tax time when I can afford to at least get some used replacement parts?

 

[bryanwheat]

Well, I know it was at least driven some, how much I don't really know. Is there anything I can do to at least make it drivable until tax time when I can afford to at least get some used replacement parts?

No, don't drive a broken car. You probably shouldn't of bought this car to drive if you can't afford to work on it.

 

[zedicus]

to put it together enough to be derivable in any condition would be fixing the broken drive line components or swapping the car to a complete FWD drivetrain. basically you need some $ so find something to sell or dump the GF and with the money saved work on the DSM.

 

[ETK-kAos]

No, don't drive a broken car. You probably shouldn't of bought this car to drive if you can't afford to work on it.

Maybe you should read the rest of my post with the story on the car because "You probably shouldn't of bought this car to drive if you can't afford to work on it." tells me you didn't.

 

[liquidsilver]

@zedicus

Yes, please do not drive until you fix!

 

[ETK-kAos]

to put it together enough to be derivable in any condition would be fixing the broken drive line components or swapping the car to a complete FWD drivetrain. basically you need some $ so find something to sell or dump the GF and with the money saved work on the DSM.

What is the best way to tell what all was damaged so I can get an idea of what all will need to be replaced? I brought the rear diff in the house and opened it up, the drain plug is just covered in metal shavings so I am pretty sure it's toast. Are they rebuild able or is my only option replacement? Same thing goes for my center diff, are they rebuild able or is replacement the only option?

How can I tell if the axles and drive shaft are good?f

Thank you for actually trying to help instead of bashing me for shit that happened when the car wasn't even in my possession.

Edit: I am trying to do this somewhat on a budget as I work full time but don't make very much money ($20k/year), married with two kids, etc... I would like to use used parts when possible to save some cash.

Thanks again