Rear Final Drive: Removing

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 16 other vehicles, including the 2017 Audi S5, 2016 Audi S5, 2015 Audi S5, 2014 Audi S5, and 2013 Audi S5. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

General repair instructions, refer to REPAIR INFORMATION .

-- Place the vehicle on a lift.

-- Remove the decorative wheel hubcap from the left rear wheel. On alloy wheels, remove the cover cap using the puller hook in the vehicle tool kit.

-- Remove the left rear wheel.

Vehicles with 6- or 8-Cylinder Engines (except for Q5)

Fig 1: Attaching Heat Shield -3- To Body -Arrows-

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Remove the rear crossmember -1-.

-- Remove the rear section of the exhaust system -2-. Refer to the appropriate service information .

NOTE:

A second technician is needed to help remove the rear section of the exhaust system.

-- Secure the rear crossmember -1- again to the body.

All Vehicles

-- Remove the heat shield -3- -arrows-.

-- Remove the driveshaft from the rear final drive. Refer to DRIVESHAFT, REMOVING FROM REAR FINAL DRIVE .

Fig 2: Counter Hold Using Counterhold Tool Touareg V10 T10172 And Adapters T10172/5

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Place a block of wood -A- (approximately 40 mm high) on the rear crossmember -C- and support the driveshaft -B-.

Fig 3: Identifying Wood On Rear Crossmember

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

NOTE:

The driveshaft -B- is supported under the center bearing by the heat shield on the Audi Q5.
The driveshaft can be bent as far as the end stop of the center joint provided that no force is used. Bending the joint forcibly to the end stop can damage the center joint and/or the protective boot.

-- Remove the driveshaft intermediate bearing mounting bolts -arrows-.

Fig 4: Identifying Mounting Bolts

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Push the driveshaft forward and at the same time remove it form the rear final drive.

-- Secure the driveshaft on the side to the subframe.

-- Remove the left driveshaft heat shield -A- from the crossmember/rear final drive -arrows-.

Fig 5: Removing Left Driveshaft Head Shield

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Remove the left -1- and right -3- drive axles.

Fig 6: Removing Left And Right Driveshaft

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Loosen the bolts -2- 3 turns.

-- Remove the bolt -4-.

-- Position the V.A.G 1383 A and the V.A.G 1359/2 and a block of wood -A- (approximately 80 mm tall) under the rear final drive.

Fig 7: Placing V.A.G1383A, V.A.G1359/2 And Block Of Wood Under Rear Final Drive

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

NOTE:

Make sure the V.A.G 1359/2 does not make contact with the fuel tank.

-- Remove the bolts -1- (lower bolts attaching the crossmember to the rear final drive) and -2-.

-- Remove the two upper bolts that connect the crossmember -B- to the rear final drive.

Fig 8: Guiding T40154 Through Holes In Subframe -A-

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Guide the T40154 through the holes in the subframe -A-. Move the final drive to the left or right just a little, if necessary.

-- Move the final drive -A- forward slightly.

Fig 9: Placing V.A.G 1383 A With V.A.G 1359/2 And A Block Of Wood

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Turn the lower crossmember -B- in direction of -arrow 1- and guide the final drive -arrow 2- and remove it.

NOTE:

A second technician must help with the next steps.
Before raising the left rear suspension, secure the vehicle to the lifting arm on the hose using a T10038.

-- Remove the V.A.G 1383 A from under the final drive while a second technician keeps the rear final driving from falling down.

-- Insert the T10149 in the V.A.G 1383 A.

-- Attach the T10149 using a wheel bolt -arrow A- to the left rear suspension wheel hub.

Fig 10: Attaching T10149 To Suspension Left Rear Wheel Hub Using A Wheel Bolt

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Lift the left rear suspension using the V.A.G 1383 A just until the support arm -1- on the vehicle hoist just starts to lift the vehicle -arrow B-.

WARNING:

Do not raise or lower the vehicle if the V.A.G 1383 A is under it.
Do not leave the V.A.G 1383 A under the vehicle longer than is necessary.

-- The second technician must now push the rear final drive -1- toward the left side of the vehicle in direction of -arrow-.

Fig 11: Mounting Rear Final Drive On Subframe

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Then guide the right drive axle -5- upward out of the final drive flange shaft -4-.

-- Guide the left drive axle -3- out and then, together with the second technician, remove the final drive from the subframe -2- toward the rear.

-- If the rear final drive is replaced, the balance weight -arrow- must be rebuilt on the new rear final drive, refer to BALANCE WEIGHT ON THE REAR FINAL DRIVE .

Fig 12: Identifying Balance Weight

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC