Center Differential Housing, Removing And Installing: Removing

WARNING: This page is about a different variant/trim than selected.

Removing the Center Differential and Housing

-- Remove the rear noise insulation by loosening the fasteners -2- and -3-

Fig 1: Identifying Noise Insulation Components

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NOTE:

Do not bend the flex joint in the front exhaust pipe more than 10° or it will be damaged.

Fig 2: Disconnecting Exhaust System At Double Clamps

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-- Disconnect the exhaust system at clamping sleeve(s) -arrows-.

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

Fig 3: Locating Transmission Fluid Drain Plug

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-- Remove the plug -arrow- and drain the transmission fluid.

-- Install the bolt -arrow- and tighten it to 40 Nm.

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

Fig 4: Identifying Driveshaft Heat Shield

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Driveshaft Bolted on the Transmission Side:

Fig 5: Counterholding Driveshaft Using T10172 And T10172/5

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-- Remove the bolts attaching the driveshaft to the transmission by counterholding with the Counterhold - Multiple Use T10172A and Counterhold - Kit - Adapters 5-7 T10172/5.

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

-- Secure the driveshaft to the side.

Driveshaft Connected on the Transmission Side:

-- Remove the driveshaft. Refer to DRIVESHAFT, REMOVING AND INSTALLING . For Sport Differential, refer to 39 FINAL DRIVE, DIFFERENTIAL . .

All Vehicles:

Fig 6: Supporting Transmission With VAG 1383

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-- Support the transmission using the Engine and Gearbox Jack VAS6931 and the attached Engine/Gearbox Jack - Gearbox Support T10337.

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.

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

Fig 7: Identifying Bolts & Tunnel Crossmember

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-- Lower the transmission to dimension -a- using the Engine and Gearbox Jack VAS6931.

Fig 8: Lowering Transmission To Dimension -A-

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Dimension -a- = maximum 70 mm.

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

Fig 9: Identifying Nuts & Tunnel Crossmember

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

Fig 10: Locating Center Differential Housing Bolts

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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 onto the floor can no longer be installed. If the center differential has fallen out, it must be replaced.

-- Remove the bolts -A- and -arrows- for the center differential housing -B- to the transmission.

-- Carefully remove the center differential housing -6-, the pressure spring -3-, the adjusting shim -4- and the plate spring -5-.

Fig 11: Identifying Differential Housing -6-, Pressure Spring -3-, Adjusting Shim -4- & Plate Spring -5-

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-- Remove the center differential -2- and the gear carrier -1-.

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

Fig 12: Removing Gear Carrier

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

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

CAUTION:

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

Use a hammer to hit the housing on several places.
Do not damage sealing surfaces when doing so.

-- Remove the center differential.