Rear Final Drive, Removing and Installing

Special tools and equipment
- VAG1359/2 universal transmission attachment
- VAG1383A transmission jack

Removing
- Remove rear section of exhaust system located rearward of exhaust pipe clamp(s).
- Remove heat shield above driveshaft.





- Check for factory color marking on driveshaft. If not, mark position of driveshaft flange (arrow -A-) in relation to drive flange in rear final drive (arrow -B-) with color marking.
- Remove mounting bolts from driveshaft flange.





- Tie driveshaft to parking brake cable using wire.

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

- Disconnect left and right drive axles from final drive.





- Place VAG1383A transmission jack with 1359/2 universal transmission attachment under final drive and support weight of final drive.
- Fasten final drive using belt.





- Remove mounting bolts (arrows) of front crossmember for final drive.
- Remove front crossmember.





- Remove mounting bolts -B- and -C- from rear crossmember at final drive.
- Lower final drive using transmission hoist.

WARNING:: For safety reasons, two persons are required for lowering the final drive, and raising it again for installations

Note: Crossmember -1- does not need to be removed.

Installing
Installation is the reverse of removal.

Notes:
- Always replace self-locking nuts.
- Always replace self-locking driveshaft bolts.
- The threaded holes on the drive flange on 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 subsequently breaking off at the next disassembly.
- The threads can be cleaned 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.





- Use transmission hoist, to raise final drive far enough until both drive axles can be installed.
- Tighten drive axle bolts.
- Raise final drive and bolt to crossmember and transmission support.
- Install drive shaft, Refer to Drive/Propeller Shaft, Service and Repair.

Notes:
- Always replace self-locking bolts for driveshaft.





- To prevent imbalance, the flanges of the driveshaft (arrow -A-J and of the final drive (arrow -B-) must be installed so that the factory color markings (or the color markings made during removal) are aligned.
- After removing driveshaft from final drive, additional balance disc (thicker washer) which may have been installed between base plate and bolt head may not be reinstalled.

- Check oil level in final drive.
- Align exhaust system free of stress.

Tightening torques

Component Tightening Torque

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

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

Front crossmember for differential with mounting bracket for exhaust system to body

- 50 Nm (37 ft. lb.)

Rear crossmember to final drive 55 Nm (41 ft. lb.)

Drive axle to drive flange

- M8 40 Nm (30 ft. lb.)

- M10 80 Nm (59 ft. lb.)