I'm about to rebuild my right hand side original drive shaft on a 2003 Octavia vRS hatchback. It's off the car and have been replaced with an aftermarket one.

 

• Does anyone know the part number for the genuine outer CV-joint and complete CV-boot with clips? A good quality OEM part will do fine too. I read somewhere that the genuine boot is made of a harder more plastic-like material which withstands abuse over time better than the universal rubber ones. I cant look part numbers of the one I've got since it's stored in another part of Sweden right now.

 

• Price in the UK? Here in Sweden an non genuine outer CV-joint with boot cost around £160 but as you can imagine I support the UK/German businesses when it comes to buying stuff for my car

 

• How much play is tolerable in the CV-joints? If just a small play, will it work if you take it apart, clean it and put in some new grease?

 

• Any recommendations for a good CV-joint grease?

 

At the same time I can put out a small heads up when going for a cheap aftermarket/eBay drive shaft/CV-joint. I read about these being OK and I had to fix the right hand side drive shaft of the car before that years Rally Finland so I decided to take a chance and go for one from J&R off eBay UK. Bought one listed for the vRS/TT/Golf GTI.

 

The drive shaft has gone very bad in less than 2 years. If you search the web there are many stories of them (read eBay drive shafts) being bad.

From the time it was put on the car it has vibrated more and been more harsh, even more than the bad genuine one. It also makes this resonating sound around 4.000 rpm. When coming off throttle the car "kicks" more and the car feels jerky when going slowly in traffic. This winter I noticed that the car pulls to the right on throttle.

 

The main reason for replacing it is that it now makes this loud clunking noise while driving and I believe it has contributed in shortening the life of my new wheel bearings which were replaced a year ago. Yesterday I also noticed that the gearbox is leaking from that same side so one can wonder if it, what feels like an improperly balanced drive shaft, has contributed to this?

 

In the beginning it felt OK but from the mid/end of last year to now it has gone very bad in a short time. Car is standard engine wise with maybe 10-15 ponies M.I.A

 

I won't buy another one, that's for sure.

 

This is my own personal opinion and I'm referring to my own experience. Like I said, I can confirm what many others around the web say of the cheap drive shafts.

OK,so I did a quick search and found some that are labeled OEM:

 

GKN Lobro

SKF

Meyle (if as good as their other parts then no)

 

They do come in different sizes so if anyone have the part number it would help. Also the description says thermoplastic-boot.

 

Engine code is AUQ. Gearbox 5-speed manual.