Rear Axle, Removing And Installing, All Wheel Drive Vehicles

Special tools and workshop equipment required 

• Torque Wrench 1331 5-50Nm VAG1331
• Torque Wrench 1332 40-200Nm VAG1332
• Engine/Gearbox Jack VAG1383A with Universal Transmission Support VAG1359/2
• Tensioning Strap T10038

Removing the Subframe and Attachments 

-- Determine dimension -a- from the center of the wheel to the lower edge of the wheel housing before starting work while the vehicle is resting on its wheels.

Fig 1: Dimension From Center Of Wheel To Lower Edge Of Wheel Housing

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Place the vehicle on a hoist.

-- Remove the wheels.

-- Remove the coil springs. Refer to SPRING, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .

-- Remove the rear muffler. Refer to EXHAUST PIPES/MUFFLERS for engine code CALA, EXHAUST PIPES/MUFFLERS for engine codes CAED, CAEB, CPMB, CPMA, or EXHAUST PIPES/MUFFLERS for engines CCBA, CGXC, CTUB .

-- Remove the drive axle from the rear final drive. Refer to DRIVESHAFT, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .

-- Secure the drive axle -3- to the body -2- using a wire -1-.

Fig 2: Identifying Secured Driveshaft

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Move rear drive axle tube as far as possible in direction of transmission.

Vehicles with Sport Differential: 

Fig 3: Identifying Rear Final Drive Wiring Harness Bracket

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Remove the bolts -arrows- and remove the bracket -1- from the rear final drive.

-- Mark the connectors -2- on the Oil Pressure/Temperature Sensors -- and on the clutch valves --.

-- Disconnect the connector -4- from the All Wheel Drive Pump -V415-.

-- Unclip the wiring harness -3- from the final drive and the subframe -5 through 7- and tie it up.

Continuation for all Vehicles 

Fig 4: Identifying Left, Right Bolt And Bracket With Wires

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Remove the left and right bolt -2- and the bracket with wires -1-.

-- Release the connector -1- from the Left Rear ABS Wheel Speed Sensor -G46- and Right Rear ABS Wheel Speed Sensor -G44- and remove it.

Fig 5: Releasing Connector From Left ABS Wheel Speed Sensor

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Disconnect the right and left electromechanical parking brake connectors -3-.

-- Disconnect the connector -5- from the Left Rear Level Control System Sensor -G76- and, if equipped, from the Right Rear Level Control System Sensor -G77-.

-- Remove the left wiring harness -4-, and if equipped, the right one as well.

-- If the vehicle has electronically controlled damping, disconnect the connector on the shock absorber and free up the wiring harness.

-- Release the retaining tabs -1- and remove the stone deflector -2-.

Fig 6: Identifying Retaining Tabs And Stone Deflector

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Remove the bolt -arrow- and washer.

Fig 7: Lower Shock Absorber Bolt And Washer

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Disconnect the threaded connection -1-.

Fig 8: Identifying Threaded Connection

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Remove the brake caliper. Refer to BRAKE CALIPER, REMOVING AND INSTALLING .

-- Guide the brake caliper past the wheel suspension and secure it on the body so the weight of the caliper does not stress or damage the brake hose or line.

-- Attach the upper transverse link to the wheel bearing housing by hand -1-.

-- Remove the covers -1- and -2-. Refer to OVERVIEW - UNDERBODY PANELS .

Fig 9: Identifying Stone Deflectors

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Remove the diagonal braces on the A5 Cabriolet. Refer to DIAGONAL BRACE, REMOVING AND INSTALLING, A5 CABRIOLET, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE (FWD) .

-- Install the stone deflectors -1-, -2- and -3-, if applicable.

Fig 10: Identifying Stone Deflectors

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Place the Engine/Gearbox Jack VAG1383A with Universal Support Plate VAG1359/2 below subframe and secure with the Tensioning Strap T10038.

Fig 11: Placing VAG 1383 A With VAG 1359/2 Under Subframe

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Support the rear final drive -1- using a suitable wood block -2-.

-- Support front of subframe with a suitable wood block -4- under crossmember -3-.

-- Secure the subframe to the Engine and Gearbox Jack VAS6931 using the Tensioning Strap T10038.

-- Secure the Tensioning Strap T10038 under the drive axle and around the subframe and guide it behind the rear final drive.

-- Route Tensioning Strap T10038 under the Universal Transmission Support VAG1359/2 and tighten it.

-- Remove the left and right bolts -1- and -2-.

Fig 12: Identifying Left And Right Bolts

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Remove the left and right supports -3-.

-- Remove bolts -arrows-.

Fig 13: Subframe Position & Bolts

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

• Before lowering the subframe, make sure all the electrical wiring connections have been disconnected and removed.

-- Carefully lower the subframe with attachments while being careful of the brake calipers and its lines.

Subframe with Attachments, Installing 

Installation is the reverse of removal, with special attention to the following:

Tightening specifications. Refer to OVERVIEW - SUBFRAME .

Tightening specifications. Refer to OVERVIEW - WHEEL BEARING, VEHICLES WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) .

Applies to the allroad 

-- Position the right and left spacer. Refer to -item 37- in OVERVIEW - SUBFRAME, A4 WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)  - Spacing Disc, and -item 42- in OVERVIEW - SUBFRAME, A4 WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)  - Spacing Disc on the subframe bonded rubber bushing with the ribbed side facing the body.

Applies to All 

Fig 14: Center Of Subframe Mount Holes Must Be Aligned To Bolting Points On Body

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- The center of the subframe mount holes must be aligned to the bolting points on the body.

-- Align the subframe so dimension -a- on vehicles without a stone deflector is 19 mm and dimension -b- on vehicles with a stone deflector is 14 mm.

-- Tighten the wheel. Refer to WHEEL BOLT TIGHTENING SPECIFICATIONS .

-- An axle alignment may be required. Refer to EVALUATING NEED FOR AXLE ALIGNMENT .

The axle alignment on the front and rear axles must be performed on a VW/Audi approved alignment rack.