Audi Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

Removing and installing rear final drive - Audi A8 Special tools and workshop equipment required

t  Engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- with universal gearbox support -V.A.G 1359/2-

t  Tensioning strap -T10038-

t  Support -T10149-

t  Counterhold tool -T10172- with adapters -T10172/5-

t  Socket -T40154- Removing rear final drive Refer to general repair instructions → Chapter. –  Place vehicle on lifting platform. –  Remove rear left wheel.

–  Remove rear cross member -1-.   Note A second mechanic is required for removing the rear section of the exhaust system. –  Remove rear section of exhaust system -2- → Engine, mechanics; Rep. gr.26. –  Detach propshaft from rear final drive → Chapter.

–  To support propshaft -B-, place a wooden block -A- (approx. 40 mm high) on rear cross member -C-.   Note The propshaft can be bent as far as the stop at the centre joint, but must not be subjected to any kind of force. The centre joint or the protective boot can be damaged if the joint is forced against its stop.

–  Remove bolts -arrows- securing centre propshaft bearing. –  Push propshaft forwards and at the same time pull it off rear final drive. –  Tie propshaft to one side.

–  Detach heat shield -A- for drive shaft (left-side) from cross member/rear final drive -arrows-.

–  Unbolt drive shafts on both sides -1- and -3-. –  Slacken off bolts -2- approx. 3 turns. –  Remove bolt -4-.

–  Place engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- with universal gearbox support -V.A.G 1359/2- and a suitable block of wood -A- (approx. 80 mm high) below rear final drive.   Note Make sure that universal gearbox support -V.A.G 1359/2- does not make contact with fuel tank. –  Remove bolts -1- (bottom bolts securing cross member to rear final drive) and -2-.

–  Remove 2 top bolts securing cross member -B- to rear final drive. –  For this step, guide socket -T40154- through holes in subframe -A-. If necessary, move final drive slightly to either side.

–  Then push final drive -A- slightly forwards. –  Turn cross member -B- towards the bottom left -arrow 1-, guide past final drive -arrow 2- and remove.   Note t  A 2nd mechanic is required for the next steps when removing the rear final drive. t  Before lifting the rear left suspension, the vehicle must be secured to the lifting arm of the lifting platform with tensioning strap -T10038-. –  Take out engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- from below final drive; 2nd mechanic must hold final drive to prevent it from dropping. –  Attach support -T10149- to engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A-.

–  Attach support -T10149- to rear left wheel hub using wheel bolt -arrow A-. –  Using engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A-, lift rear left suspension until vehicle starts to come clear of lifting arm -1- of lifting platform -arrow B-. Do not lift vehicle further.   WARNING t  Do not raise or lower vehicle while engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- is positioned under the vehicle. t  Do not leave engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- under vehicle for longer than necessary.

–  2nd mechanic must now push rear final drive -1- towards left side of vehicle in direction of -arrow-. –  Guide drive shaft (right-side) -5- upwards out of flange shaft -4- of rear final drive. –  Then disengage drive shaft (left-side) -3- and, with assistance of 2nd mechanic, detach final drive rearwards from subframe -2-. Installing rear final drive Perform installation in reverse sequence of removal. Note the following:

–  With assistance of 2nd mechanic, bring rear final drive -1- into installation position on subframe -2-. –  Fit drive shaft (left-side) -arrow 3- into flange shaft of final drive. –  2nd mechanic must now push rear final drive -1- towards left side of vehicle in direction of -arrow-. –  Then fit drive shaft (right-side) -5- into flange shaft -4- of final drive. –  Detach engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- with support -T10149- from rear left suspension.

–  Place engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- with universal gearbox support -V.A.G 1359/2- and a suitable block of wood (approx. 80 mm high) below rear final drive -A-. –  Then push final drive -A- slightly forwards. –  Turn cross member -B- towards top left in opposite direction to -arrow 1- and bring into position, guiding past final drive -arrow 2-.

–  Now tighten 4 bolts securing cross member -B- to rear final drive in diagonal sequence. Tightening torque → Item –  For this step, guide socket -T40154- through holes in subframe -A-. If necessary, move final drive slightly to either side.

–  Screw in bolts -2- and -4- and tighten hand-tight initially.   Note For illustration purposes the final drive is shown without engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- and universal gearbox support -V.A.G 1359/2-. –  Tighten bolt -4-. Tightening torque → Item –  Then tighten bolts -2-. Tightening torque → Item –  Take out engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- from below final drive. –  Attach drive shafts on both sides -1- and -3- → Rep. gr.42.

–  Install heat shield -A- for drive shaft (left-side) on cross member/rear final drive -arrows- → Item.

–  Bolt propshaft onto rear final drive → Anchor. –  Secure centre propshaft bearing to body so it is free of stress. Tightening torque → Item –  Check gear oil level in rear final drive → Chapter.

–  Secure heat shield -3- to body -arrows-. –  Install rear section of exhaust system and perform stress-free alignment → Rep. gr.26. –  If fitted, install cross member -1- → Rep. gr.66. –  Install rear left wheel and tighten wheel bolts → Wheels and tyres; Rep. gr.44.