Removing the Rear Drive Shaft

You will need a new hexagon bolt with a non-loosening locking element for the outer drive shaft joint, and a new sealing gasket for the inner shaft joint (the gasket is only required on models with 5- and 6-cylinder engines).

PROCEDURE

Remove the wheel trim cover.

Loosen the wheel bolts.

Loosen the hexagon bolt in the wheel hub; the vehicle must be secured for this.

Raise the rear of the vehicle and secure it.

Remove the wheel.

Unscrew the internal hexagon bolts securing the shaft to the rear axle differential.

Pry the propshaft away from the drive flange at the transmission.

Carefully pull the ABS speed sensor back slightly.

Remove the shaft.

Installation: install a new sealing gasket on the inner joint. To do this, remove the protective film from the gasket.

First insert the shaft from the wheel side. Then tighten the flange bolts on the inner side in a crossing pattern (M8 bolts: 45 N·m; M10 bolts: 80 N·m). Do not forget the sealing gaskets!
Lower the vehicle and lock the wheels. Tighten the new wheel hub bolt as follows:
M14 x 1.5 bolt: tighten to 120 N·m, then turn a further 1/4 turn (90°).

M16 x 1.5 bolt: tighten to 200 N·m, then turn a further 1/4 turn (90°).

Tighten the stabilizer link nuts to 20 N·m.

Manually push the ABS speed sensor in fully.

Note: do not move vehicles with the propshaft removed; otherwise the wheel hub bearing will be damaged. In an emergency, only the outer joint should be installed.

Audi vehicles use different drive shafts depending on engine and transmission type. Therefore, when purchasing spare parts, have the engine code and vehicle identification number (VIN) with you.