Axel damage. Help!!!, Almost ready to inspect then there was t Options

[BeastTSI]

On the front drivers side of my 1990 awd tsi the bolts to the bracket that holds the axel in place broke off in the block. and now its leaking fluid. Its at a shop and where I have lift access.

I need tips and info thanks.

[akamiami]

Shouldn't be too much of a problem. I know that every time tighten those bolts I worry about breaking those bolts off too, so I sympathize.

All you'll need to do is extract them from the block using an EZ out. Though it won't be a simple process, you must do it because the strain on the seal in the transmission from the weight of the halfshaft is causing the transmission fluid to leak out.

With a lift you'll be fine. Shouldn't be more than a 1 or 2 hour job. Just remember that the torque spec on that bolt is in the 20 lb neighborhood rather than 40 or 50.

[BeastTSI]

its note trany fluid its leaking i think its some axel fluid its a gyayish color not red

[akamiami]

If it's grey, then you may be in for some fun.

1. May just be a CV boot leak, and you're even better off than I thought.

2. Otherwise, the tranny fluid is so littered with fragments of trashed synchros and stripped gears that the fluid appears grey. If so, you might as well use that lubricant on your anal canal, because you're in for a ride. But if you didn't use MTL redline or some other synthetic in the tranny, then it's probably normal that it's grey and you're back at step one. Either way, you'll need to extract that bolt remnant and replace it.