drive shaft center support replacement

[ftroop]

My daughter's '04 'Treg started vibrating and grew to pretty bad shaking due to the center support
bearing failure. I found online a replacement/redesign support bearing from Vertex Auto. This redesign looks promising and has been on their test 'Treg for two years with no problems. They also
sell OEM replacement drive shaft assemblies. My question is, has anyone used this "fix"? More information can be found on touaregdriveshaft.com. It's "patent pending" so I'm just alittle leary.
Any advice would be welcome!

[spockcat]

As a regular on here and Club Touareg, I haven't heard of anyone who has tried this product. While it looks like it should work, a rebuilt unit is less expensive but a bit more time consuming to install. Until they gets a bunch of them in the field with regular users, I would be hesitant. I put a rebuilt unit on my Touareg by myself this past winter. Perhaps if they were less expensive than the rebuilt unit I would have tried it.

As for the longevity of the product, how much longer will your daughter keep an 8 year old car?

EDIT: Looking on Club Touareg, I see there are several users who have used the product and it worked for them. One who said it didn't solve his problem. I think part of the issue is that you don't always know whether it is the rubber alone that failed or whether the bearing failed, causing heat and making the rubber fail too. The Vertex product doesn't replace the bearing. It only replaces the rubber. If the bearing is bad, then you are still left with a bad driveshaft.

[ftroop]

Yes, I've gotten some really good advice from your posts on various Touareg issues.
You have answered my concerns pretty much as I was thinking! I have just one more
question, and since you've already replaced the drive shaft I was wondering if you also
replaced the "rubber" flex pieces where the drive shaft connects? Thanks.

[spockcat]

The replacement drive shaft is a complete assembly including the metal center support, rubber donut and new bearing. The rubber donut is molded onto the metal center support and bearing. There is no way to just replace that piece.

The Vertex piece replaces the rubber with what looks to be some kind of plastic support pieces. I would think that could transmit vibration more easily than the rubber and if the bearing is bad and heats up, it would probably melt quickly.

[ftroop]

Nice catch. I hadn't considered that facet. I have since found a complete drive shaft at Colorado
Driveshafts. It is a rebuild to OEM specs, they also have new (for more money). They are comparable to Vertex in cost so I guess I'll be swapping out a drive shaft this weekend. They have some nice instructions and list of tools that will be needed and it doesn't sound too complicated.
Thanks again!

[OGnh9095]

Search this on rennlist.com. It has been discussed recently for cayennes.

[chicago_gal_950]

Nice catch. I hadn't considered that facet. I have since found a complete drive shaft at Colorado
Driveshafts. It is a rebuild to OEM specs, they also have new (for more money). They are comparable to Vertex in cost so I guess I'll be swapping out a drive shaft this weekend. They have some nice instructions and list of tools that will be needed and it doesn't sound too complicated.
Thanks again!

Hi, how did the rebuilt Colorado Driveshaft work out? Any issues?

[spockcat]

Hi, how did the rebuilt Colorado Driveshaft work out? Any issues?

I haven't had any issues with mine.

[chicago_gal_950]

Great - thanks Spockcat. Nice to see you again.