Howdy!

I've got a 997 TT cab, 2008, 37,000 miles. After having some work done (maintenance per manual), it's developed some symptoms I need help pinpointing.

When backing out of my garage, while the wheel is angled significantly, the car was "hopping" a little upon clutch engagement. I didn't think much of it the first couple of times, because I thought I was simply hitting a seam in the concrete, some small debris, due to suspension geometry, etc.

Fast forward a week, to the day I've had the first long drive since the maintenance (150 miles). Pulling back into the garage with wheel sharply turned, the car bucks significantly when clutch is engaged. I try the same in reverse, and it is the same. I do a complete walk around, to make sure it isn't some dragging trash or a loose body panel. Put it away,

Today, I take it a couple of blocks to an empty parking lot, so I can observe the tach while recreating the issue. The engine is not cutting power, resulting in the hiccup. It is also now making occasional loud noises.

Park it in the lot to do another inspection in daylight, and the driver's side wheel has very thick, sweet smelling black oil dribbled all over the interior rim surface.

Now, I did have my front differential oil changed during the maintenance. What should I be checking? Is it possible the mechanics have screwed something up??

Fast forward to this evening, I go get it from the parking lot, and now driving in a straight line there is clicking and grinding from the driver's side front, like a drive shaft is not seated.

It started doing this 200' out of the parking lot, so I was forced to leave it in another parking lot.

Questions:

What do y'all think this is?

Would this be something that would be touched in changing the front diff oil?

Can I drive it the single mile home, or is a flatbed truck in the morning my best bet?

 

It's best to take it on a flatbed and get a mech to look at the underside. There are too many things going on to be able to make guesses.

black oil inside rim surface could be oil from a torn outer axle boot.

clicking and grinding seems to be a differential issue, maybe the o-ring seal in the differential is busted. but that does not explain the sound.

Worn out clutch or faulty engagement maybe?

What mod's do you have on the car? Maybe others can chime in with better ideas based on this. Hope my points help you.

 

Zero mods, stock car. I think you're right on the torn outer axle boot though!

I went and jacked up the car in the parking lot, and spinning the wheel made a distinct clicking noise. Rotated the wheel to peak behind, and this is what I saw:



Is the boot the only thing that holds the CV in? It's completely loose, I am able to pull it away from the wheel.

How do I inspect it for damage and reassemble? Sadly, I don't own a lift. Just jacks and jack stands...

Also, is there anything I can do to secure the CV to drive it the 1.5 miles home to work on it in my garage? Any ideas how this could have happened?

 

If you are able to pull the axle, then it may be loose from the differential side. Its possible your inner axle boot it also torn. You cannot see this until you remove the cover on the underside.

As to why it happened, wear and tear! I am unsure about the drivability if there are other issues, but with torn axle joints, its ok for you to drive to the dealer. The grease looks very fresh.

 

I was going to say your CV joint is out of grease and caused your CV joint to fail. You can drive it like it is for 1.5 miles, it isnt going to get any worse as long as you keep the speed low. The boot doesnt hold the joint together, just keeps the grease in and the dirt out.

If it has been torn for any amount of time you have gotten dust/dirt/grit inside the CV joint and it will need to be replaced. You could probably repack the CV joint and put a new boot on it but if it is popping/clicking when it is moving straight then the CV joint is most likely gone.

I would be worried that the mechanics didnt see that when they worked on it....obviously it wasnt torn that bad then but it still had to be torn....