Special tools and workshop equipment required
Removing
 Note
  
Note
 Caution
 
  Caution
Risk of damaging the coupling elements.
Vehicles with 3.0L TDI driveshaft and Two Turbochargers
- Remove the particulate filter or SCR catalytic converter. Refer to → 6-Cylinder TDI Common Rail 3.0L 4V Engine (Generation II); Rep. Gr.26; Emissions Control; Particulate Filter, Removing and Installing.

Continuation for all Vehicles
- Loosen clamping sleeve(s) -arrows- and push it toward the rear.
- Tie the front muffler or the left and right front exhaust pipe to the underbody.

- Remove the bolts -arrows- and remove the driveshaft heat shield -1- (if equipped).

- Cut the clamp -1- for the driveshaft boot and remove it.
 Note
  
Note
Ignore -item 2-.

Audi A6 and A7
- Remove the crossmember -2-. Refer to → Body Exterior; Rep. Gr.66; Underbody Panel; Overview - Underbody Panels.

Audi A4, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A5 Cabrio, Q5, A8
- If equipped, remove the front crossmember -2- and the rear crossmember -3-. Refer to → Body Exterior; Rep. Gr.66; Underbody Panel; Overview - Underbody Panels.

Continuation for all Vehicles
- Remove the heat shield -1-.
- Lower the front of the exhaust system rear section and then secure it using the Transmission Support -VW 785/1 B-, as illustrated.

- Make sure there is a mark (color dot) on the driveshaft and on the rear final drive driveshaft flange -arrow A and arrow B- .
- Make a color dot again if the original mark is no longer visible.

- Remove the driveshaft bolts -1- from the rear final drive.
- Counterhold with Counterhold - Kit - Multiple Use -T10172- and Counterhold - Kit - Adapter 5 -T10172/5-.

- Use the Counterhold - Kit - Multiple Use - Adapter 6 -T10172/6- for the rear final drive 0BE.

- Remove the bolts -arrows- for the driveshaft intermediate bearing.
- Bend the driveshaft on the intermediate bearing all the way without force.
 Note
  
Note
- Guide the rear driveshaft on the fuel tank and on the rear subframe downward and remove it from the transmission.

Installing
 Note
  
Note
- First mount the driveshaft on the transmission.
- Bend the driveshaft on the intermediate bearing all the way without force.
 Note
  
Note
- Guide the rear driveshaft on the subframe and fuel tank upward.

- Install the bolts -arrows- just far enough so that the so the intermediate bearing can still be moved.

- Position the driveshaft on the rear final drive while paying attention to the installation position:
- Install the new bolts all the way in by hand but do not tighten them.

- Line up the hose clamp -1- for the driveshaft boot with the retainers -2- and then tighten the clamp using for example the Hose Clamp Pliers -VAG1275A-.
 Note
  
Note
In order to use the Hose Clamp Pliers -VAG1275A- correctly, move the driveshaft a little toward the rear.

- Tighten the driveshaft bolts -1-. Follow the tightening sequence. Refer to → Fig. "Driveshaft to Rear Final Drive - Tightening Specification and Sequence".

- Tighten the driveshaft intermediate bearing on the body without tension. Tightening specification. Refer to -item 9-.

Install in reverse order of removal. Note the following:
- Tighten the heat shield -A- to the transmission -arrows-. Tightening specification. Refer to → Fig. "Driveshaft Heat Shield - Tightening Specification".

- Install the heat shield -1-. Refer to → Body Exterior; Rep. Gr.66; Underbody Trim Panel; Overview - Underbody Trim Panel.
- If equipped, install the front crossmember -2- and the rear crossmember -3-. Refer to → Body Exterior; Rep. Gr.66; Underbody Trim Panel; Overview - Underbody Trim Panel.

Vehicles with 3.0L TDI Engine and Two Turbochargers.
- Install the particulate filter or SCR catalytic converter. Refer to → 6-Cylinder TDI Common Rail 3.0L 4V Engine; Rep. Gr.26; Emissions Control System; Particulate Filter, Removing and Installing.
- Install the exhaust system and align it without tension. Refer to → Rep. Gr.26; Exhaust Pipes/Muffler; Overview - Muffler.

 Driveshaft, Removing and Installing, Driveshaft Bolted on Transmission 
Side
 Driveshaft, Removing and Installing, Driveshaft Bolted on Transmission 
Side
	 Driveshaft on Transmission or Rear Final Drive, Removing and Installing
 Driveshaft on Transmission or Rear Final Drive, Removing and Installing
	 Boot, Replacing
 Boot, Replacing
	 A/C System Repair Information
 A/C System Repair Information
	 Battery Interrupt Igniter
 Battery Interrupt Igniter