Low Range Thudding

[aaron_2000]

Realised an issue with the Touareg today, it's the 2011 3.0 TDI 240, in normal gearing it drie fine, no issues at all. Put it in low range and it thuds hard when moving, even worse in reverse. It doesn't do it at all in high range, but it does it no matter what in low range. Tyres aren't the greatest, soon to be replaced, but that wouldn't explain why it's only a low range issue?

[aaron_2000]

Hereward said:

Does engagement of low range also fully lock the centre/rear differential?

Thud only when turning, or driving in a straight line?

What surface are you driving on in low range?

You can put it in low range, then lock the centre diff then lock the rear diff, it thuds when driving straight or turning and this was first noticed on some Dales tarmac backroads.

[aaron_2000]

rallycross said:

Likely to be the prop shaft bearing common on these although you would also hear this in normal driving.

There is a place in Feltham that does the repairs on these for a very reasonable amount you get a fully recon prop shaft and it’s not a big job for a local garage to remove yours and send off Then replace ( less than 2 hrs).

Link below to them last time charged me around £200 which is a lot better than VW £600.

http://www.propshaft-services.co.uk

Thanks, bookmarked them. It's odd that it doesn't do it in anything other than low range. Only recently was it inspected and that didn't show anything up. Pretty sure it was some form of commercial vehicle when new though.

[aaron_2000]

Been out and checked it in all the modes. Doesn't actually do it in just low range, centre diff locked and low range it does it a bit, rear diff and centre diff locked and low range it does it a lot.

[aaron_2000]

Mr2Mike said:

aaron_2000 said:

Been out and checked it in all the modes. Doesn't actually do it in just low range, centre diff locked and low range it does it a bit, rear diff and centre diff locked and low range it does it a lot.

With either or both of the diffs locked the thudding noise would be expected when driving on a grippy surface like tarmac. This puts the transmission under a LOT of stress, do not do this. Diff locks should be used only for low traction surfaces.

If it's doing it in low range with neither of the diffs locked, then you have an actual problem.

Thanks for clearing that up, seems to be no issue then thankfully.