Unless anyone replies otherwise, and I am no expert on this....
I find lateral play (side to side) to be expected and not helpful in
determining if the joint is worn. Try twisting the joint, does it twist?
That's a sign of a worn joint. The only way to know is to look for wear
when you pull it apart to reboot. Might as well do both sides and both ends
and just reset the clock on that job.

-Craig

On Fri, Nov 23, 2012 at 5:44 PM, Dick Wong <sailingfc@dslextreme.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I'm new to the list.  Picked up my "new' 87 Syncro earlier this month.  Has
> about 155K miles on the chassis and about 22K miles on the 2.5L VW/Audi
> in-line 5 cylinder.
>
> I am going through the whole van and making a list of things I need to do
> and fix.
>
> I found that one of the front half-shafts needs a outer CV boot.  When I
> move the shaft, it will move left to right about a quarter inch and I can
> hear it clank inside the outer CV joint.  The other front half-shaft does
> not need boots, but it also moves about the same amount when I push and
> pull
> it.  Is this normal?
>
> Other than the obvious CV boot, should I be also picking up the outer CV
> joint also?  What about the other side that doesn't need any boots but does
> have some movement?
>
> Thanks.
>
> -Dick-
> 78 Scirocco
> 87 Syncro
> 12 Golf TDI
>