Exhaust System, Aligning

Special tools and workshop equipment required 

• Torque Wrench (5-50 Nm) V.A.G 1331

Conditions: 

• Align the exhaust system when cold.

Procedure 

-- Loosen the nuts -3 and 4- on the front clamping sleeve -1-.

Fig 1: Identifying Front Clamping Sleeve Connections

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Align the front clamping sleeve -1- to the mark -A- on the front exhaust pipe -2- (-arrow- faces in direction of travel).

• -a- = 5 mm

• The bolts must be at the right and must not project beyond the lower edge of the clamping sleeve -arrow-.
  Fig 2: Identifying Clamping Sleeve Location

  Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Hand tighten the front nut -3- on the clamping sleeve.

Fig 3: Identifying Front Clamping Sleeve Connections

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- Push the exhaust system as far forward until the dimension -a- on the outer retaining loop of the front muffler is 9 to 11 mm. The -arrow- points in direction of travel.

Fig 4: Identifying Exhaust System Pushed As Far Forward

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

-- In this position, evenly tighten the nut -3 and 4- on the clamping sleeves.

Fig 5: Identifying Front Clamping Sleeve Connections

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

Tightening specification: 23 Nm

Tailpipe, Aligning 

-- Align the rear muffler so that the distance -a- between the bumper cutout and the right and left tailpipes is equal.

Fig 6: Identifying Rear Muffler Aligned So That Distance Between Bumper Cut-Out And Right/Left Tail Pipes Is Equal

Courtesy of VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

At the same time, the distance -b- of the bumper cutout must be parallel to the tailpipes.

-- To align the tailpipes, loosen the rear muffler mounting components if necessary.