Special tools and workshop equipment required
Removing
Note
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
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
- Guide the rear driveshaft on the fuel tank and on the rear subframe downward and remove it from the transmission.

Installing
Note
- First mount the driveshaft on the transmission.
- Bend the driveshaft on the intermediate bearing all the way without force.
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
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 on Transmission or Rear Final Drive, Removing and Installing
Boot, Replacing
Emergency unlocking of the luggage compartment lid
Component Locations Overview - Electric and Electronic Components