The Saga of the Napa axle
Last July-ish
Ever since the ball joint broke last year and pulled the tire into the bumper, I've had a clicking sound coming from that area every time i move at full lock. I brought it to the Howell Mill Firestone, reluctantly, but they got the car back on the road the next day! Which i really utterly desperately needed enough for me to spend $300 getting it done instead of spending $70 at GAP, and I didn't have a garage to work on it at the time anyway.
5/20/10
I was out running errands and what sounded like the cv was starting to sound like it was eating itself alive. So i slowly drive it home, park it in the garage, and pull the axle out. The outer cv felt fine to me, but if you've ever taken an axle out before, you know what a pain it is, especially with the 5000's weird single beam control arm/swaybar setup. I also found that the shop that did my control arm/ball joint used a different nut and bolt to hold it to the steering knuckle and it was a pain to get out...
5/21/10
Since Napa was closed by the time i was done, i ordered the axle the next day, then i went to Jim Ellis audi and ordered the right, and very specific, nut and bolt for $10...
5/26/10
Nut and bolt come in at audi
5/27/10
The first axle comes in from napa. I get home and wait for the rain to go down before attempting to put it on. I get it attached to the transmission, stick it in the hub, and prop it on the ball joint.... It's too short. I remove it from the tranny, put the nut on the begnning of the threads... still too short. I rip the damn thing out and guess what... napa's closed.
5/28/10
Bring the axle back to Napa. They look it up and they ordered the axle for a manual tranny instead of an automatic.... they order another one.
6/2/10
They get the new axle in. I go to pick it up, and i look it over and it looks to be the right one this time... there's one problem. The outer CV is completely locked solid. The guy put his foot on the outer joint and pried the axle up to show the cv wasn't totally locked up. I was in disbelief that he thought it was okay to mount it on the car like that while he ordered another one... I kindly declined that offer and now i'm waiting for a 3rd one.
I mean don't get me wrong, I love Napa. They have always treated me right and their parts have always been awesome and right the first time. I don't know if i should just call it a fluke, or should i start going to Impart or O'reileys or something.
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