Center Differential Housing, Removing And Installing, Bolted Driveshaft: Removing

Fig 1: Noise Insulation Panels

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-- Remove the rear noise insulation -2-. Refer to OVERVIEW - NOISE INSULATION .

Vehicles with a Single Pipe Exhaust System

Fig 2: Clamping Sleeve Threaded Connections

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CAUTION:

Danger of causing damage to the decoupling element inside the front exhaust pipe.

Do not bend decoupling element in front exhaust pipe more than 10°.

-- Loosen the bolts -arrows-, slide the sleeve to the rear and tie up the front exhaust pipe to the body.

Vehicles with Dual Pipe Exhaust System:

Fig 3: Identifying Bolts - Vehicles With Dual Exhaust System

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CAUTION:

The decoupling elements in the front muffler could be damaged.

Do not bend decoupling element in front muffler more than 10°.

-- Loosen the clamping sleeve -1 and 2-, slide it to the rear and tie it up to the body.

All Vehicles

Fig 4: Driveshaft Heat Shield -1-

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-- Remove the bolts -arrows- and remove the driveshaft heat shield -1- (if equipped).

-- Counterhold the driveshaft using Counterhold - Kit - Multiple Use T10172 with Counterhold - Kit - Adapter T10172/5 and remove the bolts attaching the driveshaft to the transmission.

Fig 5: Counterholding Driveshaft Using T10172 And T10172/5

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-- Press the driveshaft together with rear final drive; the universal joint is able to slide axially.

-- Tie the driveshaft to the underbody.

CAUTION:

Danger of damaging the transmission fluid pan.

Never use the transmission fluid pan as a support for the transmission.

Fig 6: Installing 2 Flat Mounts And 3282

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-- Install the 2 flat mounts -1 and 2- in the Transmission Support 3282.

-- Place the Transmission Support 3282 on the Engine and Gearbox Jack VAS6931.

-- Support the transmission at the bolting surfaces on the transmission fluid with a rubber pad -3- as illustrated.

-- Slightly lift the transmission using the Engine and Gearbox Jack VAS6931.

WARNING:

There is the risk of an accident.

The Engine and Gearbox Jack VAS6931 may only be used during assembly and must not sit unsupervised under the vehicle.

-- If installed: Remove the bolts -arrows- and air guide -A-.

Fig 7: Identifying Air Guide And Bolts

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-- Remove the bolts from the tunnel crossmember -arrows-.

Fig 8: Identifying Tunnel Crossmember And Bolts

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-- Remove the nuts -arrows- and the tunnel crossmember.

Fig 9: Identifying Mount Nuts & Tunnel Crossmember

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-- Lower the transmission with the Engine and Gearbox Jack VAS6131 just far enough until the transmission fluid pan is not touching the crossbrace -A-.

Fig 10: Installing 2 Flat Mounts And 3282

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-- Place the Used Oil Collection and Extraction Unit SMN372500 under the transmission.

Fig 11: Center Differential Housing Tightening Sequence

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-- Remove the bolts -1 through 4- and carefully remove the center differential housing. The transmission fluid (MTF) will leak out while doing this.

CAUTION:

Danger of damaging the center differential.

Carefully and slowly pull center differential housing off of transmission toward rear. Otherwise the center differential can fall out of the transmission.
A center differential that has fallen out may not be installed.

If the gear carrier -1- remains in the center differential housing, proceed as follows:

Fig 12: Removing Gear Carrier

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CAUTION:

Danger of damaging the sealing surface on the center differential housing.

Use a hammer to hit the housing carefully on several places.

-- Hold the gear carrier -1- by one of the side ribs with pliers and remove it in -arrow A-.

-- Using a Rubber Hammer, tap the housing on alternating sides -B arrows-.