Ordered the Beck/Arnley LCA just now. They don't stock any inner CV boots for the AWD model (grrr...) Found online this site: https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1J0498201G this product from GKN lists it is compatible with my AWD T5 V50 and several other cars (!): Audi A4 Quattro, A6 Quattro, A4, TT Quatt...

It worked! Happy Dance!! Just drove rebuilt car about 80 miles roundtrip and climbed Mt. Monadnock with bestie - felt like a celebration. The extreme pulling to the left by the car is gone! Most of the extreme vibration thru cabin and wheel is gone - some still there but nothing like before. The bus...

From memory (but I will double check this and make a more official write up): Freeze new bearing for at least 2-3 hours or overnight ahead of time (to shrink it a little). -jack car up on applicable side. -Remove wheel. -Remove brake caliper and rotor -Remove the lower ball joint from the spindle. 2...

Ok. Install was successful. I can confirm this (Mazda 3) specific shock fits the V50 perfectly. I moved over the top metal 3/4” spacer bracket that the AWD only model uses. As a note: you need to turn the normal correct bearing position on the top of the replacement shock 180 degrees around because ...

Here's a little picture to illustrate the troubles I've had on this repair:

Here's some pics of that spacer I'd be wanting to post, and also how the spacer mounts up and is oriented. It turns the regular strut for FWD vehicles 180 degrees backwards from normal. If you look at it all - it all eventually makes sense how it has to go back in. (yes, notice how 'rust free' my AW...