Advice please regarding recent trip to garage

[oldaudi]

Hello all,
I apologise if this is not in the correct part of the forum.
Im not expecting anyone to diagnose exactly what has happened with my car but Im seeking some advice on where I might stand with the garage. This happened yesterday and I sent a polite Email to the garage and Ill follow it up with a phone call on Tuesday to discuss it with them.
Last week my Audi A4 went in for a Major Service and MOT. Upon inspection during the service the garage discovered a leaking CV Boot. This was replaced due to it being an MOT failure. After replacement the car passed the MOT with no other fault or advisory’s.
A week and 400 miles later I pulled away slowly from a car park space and heard a pop. The car continued to rev, select gear and the clutch was fine. The car would simply not move. I dread to think what would have happened if I was doing 70 on the motorway
I called a well-known roadside assistance company for help. The chap looked around the car and after a short discussion about the symptoms he went to the side where the CV Boot was replaced. The picture shows what has happened.
He said that it should have a metal clip around the CV boot but this has gone. He suggested that the boot has become loose and shaken off over the last few days and now the shaft has come away from the wheel. It still spins when the car is running under the gearbox motion I guess so I know its still attached at the other end!!
I would assume that during the strip down and replacement of the CV Boot any other faults would be found by the garage and resolved. Could this be bad luck, coincidence or could we be pointing to the garage at fault due to the fact that the only bits which have blown apart are the same components all removed and replaced last week. Upon a close inspection all of the splines (?) all appear to be in good shape and not rounded off. The Recovery Company even suggested that it just needed popping back in, re-greased and sealed with the same boot.
Would I have to obtain an independent view before I go to the garage? I have sent a polite Email to them so will give them chance to respond and it is only right that I do not name the garage.

Obviously my car will not move now, so does anyone know a good reliable mobile mechanic in the Bristol area please?!!

Kind regards

Edited by oldaudi on Sunday 26th August 15:01

Edited by oldaudi on Sunday 26th August 15:03

[anonymous-user]

It is a reasonable (although not irresistible) inference that the parts were not correctly reassembled after the garage worked on them. Failing to put all the bits back properly is a common garage mistake. Take the car to them and ask them to put it right free of charge. I don't see a need for any further inspection than that carried out by the breakdown guy.

[GHW]

Breadvan72 said:

It is a reasonable (although not irresistible) inference that the parts were not correctly reassembled after the garage worked on them. Failing to put all the bits back properly is a common garage mistake. Take the car to them and ask them to put it right free of charge. I don't see a need for any further inspection than that carried out by the breakdown guy.

+1

It's not difficult to forget a retaining circlip or even fit an incorrect-length shaft (although you'd expect the professionals to be good enough to avoid those simple mistakes). Contact the garage that fitted the new CV joint and get them to sort it.

[oldaudi]

Thank you. Sorry its not clear but its not the CV joint or shaft that's been replaced. Simply the rubber boot, but I would assume its all had to come apart in order to put the boot around the shaft?

[shunaphil]

oldaudi said:

Thank you. Sorry its not clear but its not the CV joint or shaft that's been replaced. Simply the rubber boot, but I would assume its all had to come apart in order to put the boot around the shaft?

You are correct - unless they used a 'boot stretcher' which is a special tool which can stretch the boot over the shaft without dis-assembling it. They might claim this, and that the previously damaged boot led to the joint becoming worn, so coincidentally failing after they replaced the boot. If this is true, any experienced mechanic would have noticed wear that bad when they were replacing the boot anyway.

[Quietlybonkers]

shunaphil said:

oldaudi said:

Thank you. Sorry its not clear but its not the CV joint or shaft that's been replaced. Simply the rubber boot, but I would assume its all had to come apart in order to put the boot around the shaft?

You are correct - unless they used a 'boot stretcher' which is a special tool which can stretch the boot over the shaft without dis-assembling it. They might claim this, and that the previously damaged boot led to the joint becoming worn, so coincidentally failing after they replaced the boot. If this is true, any experienced mechanic would have noticed wear that bad when they were replacing the boot anyway.

Asked nicely, they will probably say sorry and put it right. They should also collect the car - just email them the photo. Don't assume the worst, just ask for the service manager. Their reputation should mean something to them. IF they argue and claim they used a boot stretcher, ask to see it.

FWIW I had the wheel nuts on a Peugeot left loose during a service at a main dealership. Next day I looked back at the car, having driven it 30 miles at 70 mph, and thought it looked odd. Only one loose wheel nut was left on the left rear wheel........I called them, told them nicely, dealer apologised, refunded the entire service cost and sent me some new nuts.....and some for the car too!

[marmitemania]

The clip around the boot does not hold the joint together it just keeps the boot in place. What has happened is the snap ring which fits inside the groove you can see on the exposed end of the shaft was either not replaced or was broken when the shaft was reassembled, you cant see the ring when its down in the grease and because its a snap ring you have to tap the joint back on over the clip which sometimes brakes the clip, some cars have a circlip in the joint which you open to fit the joint and it saves this problem, the Germans seem to think this is a better (cheaper) idea. No damage will have been done to the car and it would have not come out on the motorway, it only happens when you are on extreme lock.

[oldaudi]

marmitemania said:

The clip around the boot does not hold the joint together it just keeps the boot in place. What has happened is the snap ring which fits inside the groove you can see on the exposed end of the shaft was either not replaced or was broken when the shaft was reassembled, you cant see the ring when its down in the grease and because its a snap ring you have to tap the joint back on over the clip which sometimes brakes the clip, some cars have a circlip in the joint which you open to fit the joint and it saves this problem, the Germans seem to think this is a better (cheaper) idea. No damage will have been done to the car and it would have not come out on the motorway, it only happens when you are on extreme lock.

Many thanks everyone. Could I suggest that they didnt stretch the CV boot and perhaps it didnt go back together correctly looking at the suggestion above? The snap ring snapped/broke as soon as I put on a full lock or when they put the shaft back together?

If its only this snap ring that needs to be replaced I should be looking at a cheap and easy solution? Just need to find someone to do it who can come to me.

[marmitemania]

Yes its a very easy and cheap fix, on VAG's the drive shaft simply unbolts with 5 or 6 spline bolts from the gearbox flange and the hub nut at the other end and out comes the driveshaft, nothing else needs disturbing, it should be no more than an hours worth of labour and 50p for the snap ring. Just make sure they find the old snap ring (if it was fitted ...?) if its broken and in with the joint it could get chewed up and cause damage.

[anonymous-user]

Any thread that contains the words "flange", "spline", and "grease" has to be full of Win.

[abbotsmike]

oldaudi said:

Many thanks everyone. Could I suggest that they didnt stretch the CV boot and perhaps it didnt go back together correctly looking at the suggestion above? The snap ring snapped/broke as soon as I put on a full lock or when they put the shaft back together?

If its only this snap ring that needs to be replaced I should be looking at a cheap and easy solution? Just need to find someone to do it who can come to me.

Have you tried calling or waiting from a reply from the garage? They should be willing to fix this for you....

[anonymous-user]

These days, the first rule of PH seems to be to assume the worst, and to panic and run about before anything has actually happened.

[oldaudi]

I would like to thank everyone that has taken time to respond.

I will wait for the garage to respond and hope to have a grown up chat about it on Tuesday. Im hoping they will come and fix it, I am about 35 miles away from them and if it can be fixed as easy as some of you have suggested I guess its in their interest to fix it.

Thanks everyone

[anonymous-user]

Grown up chat = very good, even though most un PH.