Rear Final Drive, Removing and Installing

Rear final drive, removing and installing
Special tools and equipment

^ VAG 1331 Torque wrench
^ VAG 1332 Torque wrench

^ VAG 1383A Engine/transmission jack with universal transmission mounting VAG 1359/2

Removing
- Remove front cross support below exhaust system, if equipped.
- Remove rear section of exhaust system:

- Check whether there is a colored dot on driveshaft and driveshaft flange on rear final drive.
- If no markings can be found mark in color, mark position of shaft flange (arrow -A-) to rear final drive (arrow -B-).
- Separate driveshaft from rear final drive and tie up.

- Remove cover plate on final drive (arrow).
- Unbolt left and right axle shafts and tie-up.

- Remove cover plate -1- (arrows), if part of original equipment.

- Place transmission jack VAG 1383A with universal mounting 1359/2 under final drive and support final drive.

- Remove transmission support securing bolts (arrows).

- Remove securing bolts from crossmember (arrows).
- Lower final drive.

Installing
Installation is performed in the reverse sequence. Note the following:
Always replace securing bolts for driveshaft.
- Clean threads in flange shaft of rear final drive of locking fluid remains.

Note:
^ The threads can be cleaned with a thread tap.
^ If threads in the flange shaft are not cleaned the securing bolts can shear when tightened.

To prevent imbalance driveshaft flange (arrow -A-) and rear final drive flange (arrow -B-) must be installed so that colored marks from factory or those subsequently made are in alignment.

- Tighten rear final drive to crossmember (arrows).

- Tighten transmission support securing bolts (arrows).

- Install cover plate -1-, if part of original equipment, and bolt to crossmember (arrows).
- Replace seals for axle shafts and driveshaft (pull off protective foil and glue seal into joint).
- Connect driveshaft.
- Check rear final drive oil.

Tightening torques
Drive shaft to flange shaft:
Shield to rear final drive: