Drive Flange Housing, Removing and Installing

Removing
- Rear differential installed
Special tools and equipment
- VW771 with 771/15 multi-purpose tool
- VAG1306driptray
- VAG1359/2 universal mounting
- VAG 1383A engine-/transmission hoist
- Place VAG1306 drip tray underneath transmission and drain fluid.
- Remove rear section of exhaust system located rearward of exhaust pipe clamp(s).
- Remove heat shield above driveshaft.
- Remove heat shield next to rear differential.





- Check for factory color marking on driveshaft. If not, mark position of driveshaft flange -A- to drive flange in rear differential -B- with color marking.
- Remove mounting bolts from driveshaft flange.
- Tie driveshaft to mount for parking brake cable using wire.





Note: If driveshaft cannot be pushed upward past flange, tie up driveshaft after lowering the differential. When lowering driveshaft, protect it from dropping and note the permissible bend angle of driveshaft, Refer to Drive/Propeller shaft, Service and Repair.

- Support final drive using VAG1383A.





- Remove bolts (arrows) from front crossmember for final drive.
- Remove crossmember front.
- Lower final drive approx. 10 cm (4 inch).





- Remove 4 bolts for drive flange housing -1, -2- and -3-.

Note: The 4th bolt is not visible in the illustration.





- Pull off drive flange together with housing.

Installing
Installation is the reverse of removal.

Notes:
- The threaded bores in the drive flanges of the transmission and the final drive should be cleaned of all locking compound residue after driveshaft has been removed. Otherwise there is a risk of seizing the bolt when tightening and break off at next disassembly.
- Clean by using a thread tap.
- Replace seals between driveshaft and drive flange (Remove protective film and bond seal to drive flange. Adhesive bond surface must be free of grease.
- Always replace self-locking driveshaft bolts.

- If driveshaft has factory color marking, determine radial deviation on flange/driveshaft and align color marking on driveshaft to new color marking on drive flange.
- Align exhaust system free of stress.
- Top off transmission oil for final drive and check oil level.

Tightening torques

Component Tightening Torque

Drive flange housing to final drive 35 Nm (26 ft. lb.)

Driveshaft to final drive 55 Nm (41 ft. lb.)

Front crossmember for final drive to body 40 Nm (30 ft. lb.)

Front crossmember for final drive with mounting bracket for exhaust system to body

- 23 Nm (17 ft. lb.)

Oil filler plug 35 Nm (26 ft. lb.)

Nuts for clamping sleeve 40 Nm (30 ft. lb.)