Audi Workshop Service and Repair Manuals

Removing and installing rear final drive (Audi A4, A5 Coupé/Sportback/Cabriolet, A6, A7) Refer to general repair instructions → Chapter. Observe safety precautions → Chapter. 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  Counterhold tool -T10172- with adapters -T10172/5- Removing rear final drive –  Place vehicle on lifting platform. –  Detach wheel trim from rear left wheel (on vehicles with light alloy wheels, pull off trim cap using puller from vehicle tool kit). –  Remove rear wheels.   Note

The flexible pipe connection (de-coupling element) in the front exhaust pipe must not be bent more than 10° - otherwise it can be damaged. –  Unfasten clamps -1- and -2- and disconnect exhaust system. –  Tie front exhaust pipes to side of underbody.

–  Remove rear cross piece -1-. –  Remove rear section of exhaust system -2- → Rep. gr.26.   Note A second mechanic is required for removing the rear section of the exhaust system. –  Remove propshaft → Chapter.

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

–  Unscrew bolts -arrows- and detach bracket -1- from rear final drive.   Note Mark connectors -2- for oil pressure and oil temperature senders and at clutch valves. –  Unplug connectors -2- from oil pressure and oil temperature senders and clutch valves. –  Then unplug connector -4- from four-wheel drive pump -V415-. –  Subsequently, unclip wiring harness -3- from final drive and subframe -items 5 ... 7- and tie up.

–  Unbolt drive shafts (left -1- and right -3-) from final drive. –  Slacken off bolts -2- approx. 3 turns. –  Remove bolt -4-.

Lower rear section of subframe -1- as follows: –  Unscrew rear bolt (right-side) securing subframe to body. –  Screw spindle -3346- with nut -3346/3- and thrust pad from assembly tool -3301- into this threaded hole. –  Then unscrew rear bolt (left-side) securing subframe to body. –  Subsequently, lower subframe a distance of -a- =  40 mm. While doing so, counterhold spindle -3346- and turn nut -3346/3- in anti-clockwise direction.

–  Place engine and gearbox jack -V.A.G 1383 A- with universal gearbox support -V.A.G 1359/2- and a suitable rubber mat or hard-foam slab -A- below rear final drive.   Caution The rubber mat or hard-foam slab are necessary to prevent damage to the clutch valves on the rear final drive. Use tensioning strap -T10038- to secure rear final drive to prevent it from dropping. –  Unscrew the two rear bolts securing rear final drive to subframe → Anchor. –  A 2nd mechanic is required for the next steps when removing the final drive.

–  2nd mechanic must now push rear final drive towards right side of vehicle in direction of -arrow-. –  At the same time, guide drive shaft (left-side) -1- upwards out of flange shaft -2- of final drive. –  Then guide out drive shaft (right-side) and tilt rear final drive down towards rear. –  Carefully lower final drive together with 2nd mechanic, paying attention to subframe.   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. Installing rear final drive Perform installation in reverse sequence of removal. Note the following:   WARNING Malfunctions can occur on rear final drive! Additional work is required if the rear final drive has been renewed → Chapter.

–  Using engine and gearbox jack carefully raise rear final drive and, working with 2nd mechanic, bring it into installation position on subframe. -A- = rubber mat or hard-foam slab   Caution The rubber mat or hard-foam slab are necessary to prevent damage to the clutch valves on the rear final drive. Use tensioning strap -T10038- to secure rear final drive to prevent it from dropping. –  Fit drive shaft (right-side) into flange shaft of final drive.

–  2nd mechanic must now push rear final drive towards right side of vehicle in direction of -arrow-. –  Then fit drive shaft (left-side) -1- into flange shaft -2- of final drive.

–  Screw in bolts -2- securing rear final drive to subframe (hand-tight).   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- to specified torque → Item and then tighten bolts -2- to specified 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.

Then secure rear section of subframe -1- to body as follows: –  First turn nut -3346/3- in clockwise direction while counterholding spindle -3346- until subframe makes contact with body. –  Then screw in rear bolt (left-side) securing subframe to body and tighten to specified torque → Rep. gr.42. –  Subsequently, remove spindle -3346- and screw in rear bolt (right-side) securing subframe to body and tighten to specified torque → Rep. gr.42.

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

–  Clip in wiring harness -3- at final drive and subframe -items 5 ... 7-. –  Plug in connectors -4- and -2-, paying attention to marks made during removal for identification of oil pressure and oil temperature senders and clutch valves.   Caution Risk of damage to the wiring harness. When installing bracket -1- to rear final drive, make sure wiring harness -3- is not trapped. –  Install bracket -1- at rear final drive and tighten bolts -arrows- to specified torque → Anchor.   Note

t  Allocation of connectors for oil pressure and oil temperature senders and at clutch valves: t  -1- = connector for oil pressure and oil temperature sender 2 -G640- t  -2- = connector for oil pressure and oil temperature sender -G437- t  -3- = connector for clutch valve 2 for four-wheel drive -N446- t  -4- = connector for clutch valve for four-wheel drive -N445- –  Install propshaft (align markings and observe tightening sequence → Chapter). –  Check oil level in rear final drive → Chapter. –  Check ATF level in rear final drive → Chapter. –  Install rear section of exhaust system and perform stress-free alignment → Rep. gr.26. –  Install rear wheels and tighten wheel bolts → Wheels and tyres; Rep. gr.44. l  Additional work is required if the rear final drive has been renewed → Chapter „Additional work required after renewing rear final drive“.