Center Differential Housing, Transmission Installed: Removing

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 7 other vehicles, including the 2012 Audi S5, 2011 Audi S5, 2010 Audi S5, 2010 Audi A5, and 2009 Audi S5. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Transmission installed.

CAUTION:

There is a risk of damaging the transmission.

Do not let the engine run or tow vehicle without gear oil.

NOTE:

General repair instructions, refer to REPAIR INFORMATION .

Clean working conditions for the automatic transmission, refer to CLEAN WORKING CONDITIONS .

-- Loosen the quick-release fasteners -2 through 4- and remove the noise insulation. Refer to NOISE INSULATION .

Fig 1: Identifying Noise Insulation

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

NOTE:

Ignore -arrow-.

CAUTION:

The decoupling element in the front exhaust pipe could be damaged.

Do not bend the decoupling elements in the front exhaust pipe more than 10°.

-- Vehicles with one front exhaust pipe: Disconnect exhaust system at double clamp -arrow-.

Fig 2: Loosening Clamping Sleeve

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Vehicles with 2 front exhaust pipes: Disconnect the exhaust system at the clamping sleeves -1 and 2-.

Fig 3: Identifying Exhaust System Clamping Sleeves

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Remove the bolts -arrows- and remove the driveshaft heat shield.

Fig 4: Identifying Driveshaft Heat Shield - Tightening Specification

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

-- Remove the bolt connecting the driveshaft to the transmission. To do this, use the T10172 and T10172/5.

Fig 5: Using T10172 To Hold Driveshaft

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

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

-- Tie the driveshaft to the side.

CAUTION:

Danger of damaging the transmission fluid pan.

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

-- Support the transmission to the tunnel crossmember using the V.A.G 1383 A and T10337.

WARNING:

There is the risk of an accident.

The V.A.G 1383 A may only be used during assembly and must not sit unsupervised under the vehicle.

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

Fig 6: Identifying Tunnel Crossmember

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

NOTE:

Shown without the V.A.G 1383 A.

-- Lower the transmission to dimension -a- using the V.A.G 1383 A.

Fig 7: Lowering Transmission

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

Dimension -a- = maximum 100 mm.

-- Place the V.A.G 1782 under the transmission.

WARNING:

Danger of eye injury.

Wear protective eyewear.

NOTE:

The housing does not have an oil drain plug. The axle oil can only be drained by removing the housing.

-- Place a cloth on the tunnel crossmember so the oil does not leak onto it.

-- Loosen and remove the center differential housing bolts in the sequence -6 to 1- and drain the gear oil.

Fig 8: Identifying Center Differential Housing - Tightening Sequence

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

CAUTION:

Transmission components could be damaged.

Carefully remove the center differential housing from the transmission toward the rear. Otherwise the center differential could fall out of the transmission.

-- Secure the center differential -1- so it does not fall out or remove it toward the rear from the input shaft.

Fig 9: Identifying Center Differential

Courtesy of AUDI OF AMERICA, LLC

NOTE:

There are different versions of the center differential -1-.