Rear Final Drive, Removing And Installing, A8: Removing

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

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-- Remove the rear crossmember -1- .

NOTE:

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

-- Remove the exhaust system rear section -2- .

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

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

Fig 2: Identifying Wood On Rear Crossmember

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NOTE:

The driveshaft can be bent all the way to the center joint without force. Bending the joint forcibly all the way can damage the center joint and/or the protective boot.

-- Remove the bolts -arrows- and the left drive axle heat shield -1-.

Fig 3: Identifying Left Drive Axle Heat Shield Bolts

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-- Remove the left and right drive axle from the rear final drive .

-- Disconnect the connectors -1 through 5- and free up the wiring harness -arrow-.

Fig 4: Identifying Wiring Harness

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-- Remove the bolt -1- and loosen the bolt -2-.

Fig 5: Locating Rear Subframe Bolts

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-- Place the Engine and Gearbox Jack VAS6931 and a wooden block -A- on the mounting plate under the rear final drive and secure.

Fig 6: Placing Wooden Block Between Rear Final Drive And Jack

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NOTE:

Make sure the engine and transmission jack mounting plate does not make contact with the fuel tank.

-- Remove the bolts -arrows-.

-- Push the rear final drive to the left in direction of -arrow A-.

Fig 7: Identifying Rear Final Drive

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-- Move the right drive axle -1- upward.

-- To loosen the left flange shaft from the drive axle, the rear final drive must first be lowered to the right -arrow B-.

-- Secure the rear final drive with a strap and continue lowering with the Engine and Gearbox Jack VAS6931.