Rear Final Drive: Removing

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-- Place the vehicle on a hoist.

-- Remove the hub cap from the left rear wheel. On a light alloy wheels, remove cover cap (removal hook in vehicle Tool kit).

-- Remove rear wheels.

NOTE:

Do not bend the decoupling element in the front exhaust pipe more than 10°, otherwise it will get damaged.

-- Loosen the clamping sleeves -1 and 2- and separate the exhaust system.

Fig 1: Exhaust System Clamping Sleeves

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-- Tie the front exhaust pipes to the underbody.

-- Remove the rear crossbrace -1-, if equipped. Refer to OVERVIEW - UNDERBODY PANELS .

Fig 2: Attaching Heat Shield -3- To Body -Arrows-

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

NOTE:

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

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

-- Remove the left drive axle heat shield -A- from the rear final drive -arrows-.

Fig 3: Left Drive Axle Heat Shield

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

Fig 4: Identifying Rear Final Drive Wiring Harness Bracket

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NOTE:

Mark the connectors -2- for the oil pressure/temperature sensor -- and on the clutch valves --.

-- Mark the connectors -2- on the oil pressure/temperature sensor -- and on the clutch valves --.

-- Disconnect the connector -4- from the All Wheel Drive (AWD) pump -V415-.

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

-- Remove the left -1- and right -3- from the final drive.

Fig 5: Locating Rear Subframe Bolts

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Loosen The Bolts -2- Approximately 3 Turns

-- Remove the bolt -4-.

Lower the subframe -1- at the rear as follows:

Fig 6: Identifying Right Rear Subframe Bolt

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-- Remove the right rear bolt connecting the subframe to the body.

-- Attach the 3346 with the 3346/3 and the bracket from the 3301 into this threaded hole.

-- Remove the left rear bolt connecting the subframe to the body.

-- Lower the subframe to dimension -a- = 40 mm. Counter hold the 3346 and turn the 3346/3 counter-clockwise.

-- Position the V.A.G 1383 A with the V.A.G 1359/2 and a suitable rubber or hard foam mat -A- under the rear final drive.

Fig 7: V.A.G 1383/ V.A.G 1359/2

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CAUTION:

The rubber or hard foam mat is needed to prevent damaging the clutch valves -- on the rear final drive.

Use the T10038 to hold the rear final drive from falling down.

-- Remove the two back bolts that connect the rear final drive to the subframe. See Fig 5.

-- A second technician will be needed to continue removing the rear final drive.

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

Fig 8: Identifying Left Drive Axle & Final Drive Flange Shaft

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-- Guide the left drive axle -1- upward and out of the final drive flange shaft -2-.

-- Remove the right drive axle and angle the final drive downward.

-- Carefully lower the final drive together with the second technician. Pay attention to the subframe.

WARNING:

Do not lift or lower vehicle when the V.A.G 1383 A stands below the vehicle.
Do not leave V.A.G 1383 A below vehicle any longer than necessary.

-- Remove the rear crossmember -1-.

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

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NOTE:

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

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

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

-- Place a 40 mm tall block of wood -A- on the rear crossmember -C- to secure the driveshaft -B-.

Fig 2: Identifying Wood On Rear Crossmember

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NOTE:

The driveshaft can be bent at the center joint without using force. A hard bending to the stop may cause damage to the center joint or dust boot.

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

Fig 3: Left Drive Axle Heat Shield Bolts

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-- Remove the left and right drive axles from the rear final drive. Refer to OVERVIEW - DRIVE AXLE .

-- Remove the bolts -arrows- and remove the shield for the electrical wires.

Fig 4: Locating Electrical Wire Shield Bolts

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

Fig 5: Identifying Wiring Harness

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-- Remove the bolts -1 and 2-.

Fig 6: Locating Rear Subframe Bolts

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-- Place the V.A.G 1383 A under the rear final drive and support it with a block of wood -A- on the mounting plate.

Fig 7: V.A.G 1383

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NOTE:

Make sure the mounting plate on the engine-gearbox jack does not touch the fuel tank.

-- Remove the bolts -arrows-.

-- Push the rear final drive to the left -arrow A-.

Fig 8: Identifying Rear Final Drive

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

-- First lower the back of the right drive axle -arrow B- and then loosen the left flange shaft from the drive axle.

-- Secure the rear final drive with a strap and then lower it using the V.A.G 1383 A.