8-cylinder TDI engine (4.2 ltr. 4-valve common rail), mechanics — Lowering subframe for repair and assembly work — AUDI

🧭 Before you start

Remove the engine cover and plenum covers, move the air conditioner pipe and fuel filter brackets, and take the weight of the engine with support bracket 10-222 A. Remove the front wheels, noise insulation, liner fronts, charge air cooler brackets, level sender connectors, coupling rods, anti-roll bar and air spring strut bolts. Support the subframe on V.A.G 1383 A, remove the engine and gearbox mounting bolts, mark the subframe and remove its bolts diagonally in stages before lowering. Refit, align the wheels and only then tighten the subframe bolts fully.

Fits: Audi A8 D3 (4E, 2002–2010)

Don't miss

• Mark the subframe position on the longitudinal member with a felt-tip pen before unbolting.
• Remove the inner subframe bolts (2) and (3) in a diagonal sequence and in stages.
• Don't kink or stretch the refrigerant lines when moving the pipe bracket.
• Subframe bolts go only to the specified torque until the wheel alignment check is done.
• The car must not be driven until the engine cross member and mountings are back in.

Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.

🔧 Engine codes this applies to

📋 Procedure

1. Carefully pull engine cover panel off four retaining pins one after the other (arrows).
2. Remove cover above coolant expansion tank (arrows).
3. Pull off rubber seal (1) on plenum chamber covers.
4. Detach plenum chamber covers (2) and (3).
5. Remove bolt (arrow).

6. Pivot bracket for air conditioner pipe to one side. [Note: To prevent damage to the refrigerant lines, ensure that the pipes and hoses are not stretched, kinked or bent.]
7. Remove bolts (arrows) on fuel filter bracket. [Note: Fuel filter remains in engine compartment with fuel lines connected.]
8. Unscrew rear bolts (3) for body brace.
9. Attach adapters10 - 222 A /21 without cross beam onto suspension turrets.
10. Fit cross beam with adapters10 - 222 A /3 to adapters10 - 222 A /21.
11. Attach shackles10 - 222 A /12 to engine lifting eyes.
12. Secure spindles of support bracket10 - 222 A to shackles10 - 222 A /12.
13. Take up weight of engine using spindles of support bracket.
14. Remove front wheels.
15. Release fasteners (1), (2) and (4) and take off noise insulation panels.
16. Unbolt bracket for noise insulation (arrows).
17. Remove front sections of front wheel housing liners (left and right) 66.
18. Remove bolts (arrows) and detach bracket for charge air cooler (left-side). [Note: Disregard items (1) and (2).]
19. Remove bolt (arrow) for air intake pipe (left-side).
20. Remove bolts (arrows) and detach bracket for charge air cooler (right-side). [Note: Disregard items (1) and (2).]
21. Remove bolt (arrow) for air intake pipe (right-side).
22. Unplug electrical connector (2) at vehicle level sender (left and right).
23. Detach coupling rod (1) at track control link (left and right).
24. Remove bolts (left and right) (arrows) evenly and detach anti-roll bar.
25. Unbolt air spring struts (left and right) from track control links (arrow).
26. Support engine cross member and subframe using engine and gearbox jackV.A.G 1383 A as shown in illustration.
27. Remove bolts for engine mountings (arrows) on both sides.
28. Remove bolts (arrows) for front gearbox mountings (left and right).
29. Mark installation position of subframe on longitudinal member with felt-tip pen.
30. Remove bolts (1) and (4).
31. Remove bolts (2) and (3) in a diagonal sequence and in stages.
32. Slowly lower the subframe together with the engine cross member downwards.
33. Install subframe 40.
34. Tighten subframe bolts only to specified torque (do not turn further). Do not tighten bolts to final setting until after wheel alignment check has been performed 40.
35. ⚠ The vehicle must not be driven at this stage. — Install engine cross member and engine mounting .
36. Install anti-roll bar 40.
37. Install front sections of front wheel housing liners (left and right) 66.
38. Install body brace 40.
39. Perform wheel alignment check 44.

Other AUDI procedures

• Removing and installing coolant temperature sender G62 – Audi
• Checking for injectors sticking open – Audi A6/A7 C7
• Renewing engine control unit 2J624 (slave control unit) – Audi
• Removing and installing temperature sender before particulate filter G506
• Removing and installing air mass meter G70 (cylinder bank 1)
• Removing and installing toothed belt – Audi · 56 torque figures
• Removing engine – Audi A8 D3 · 41 torque figures
• Removing camshaft timing chain from camshafts – Audi A6/A7 C7 · 38 torque figures
• Installing engine – Audi A8 D4 · 36 torque figures
• Removing and installing camshaft timing chain · 29 torque figures