Center Differential, Removing And Installing, Vehicles With Attached Driveshaft: Removing

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 10 other vehicles, including the 2018 Audi S6, 2017 Audi S6, 2016 Audi S6, 2016 Audi S4, and 2015 Audi S4. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Fig 1: Noise Insulation Panels

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

NOTE:

Check the vehicle data label or the designation on the rear final drive itself to determine which one is installed in the vehicle. Then select the correct rear final drive service information.

-- Removing the driveshaft (attached). Refer to OVERVIEW - DRIVESHAFT, MOUNTED ON TRANSMISSION SIDE , and DRIVESHAFT, REMOVING AND INSTALLING, DRIVESHAFT CONNECTED ON TRANSMISSION SIDE . For Sport Differential, refer to OVERVIEW - DRIVESHAFT, MOUNTED ON TRANSMISSION SIDE , and DRIVESHAFT, MOUNTED ON TRANSMISSION SIDE, REMOVING AND INSTALLING . .

Fig 2: Installing 2 Flat Mounts And 3282

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CAUTION:

Danger of damaging the transmission fluid pan.

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

-- 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.

-- Remove the bolts -arrows- and air guide -A-.

Fig 3: Identifying Air Guide And Bolts

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

Fig 4: Identifying Tunnel Crossmember And Bolts

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

Fig 5: 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 6: Installing 2 Flat Mounts And 3282

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

Fig 7: 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 8: 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-.