Checking and renewing locking unit for 5th gear and reverse gear — VW
Checking and renewing locking unit for 5th gear and reverse gear on VW: 10 steps. What to remove, in what order, and what to check after.
Workshop procedure for VW — the exact step sequence and torque figures, straight from real workshop data.
🧭 Before you start
Fits: VW Passat B5 (3B)
Don't miss
- Lug (arrow A) of bush must always be opposite groove in housing (arrow B).
📋 Procedure
- Remove cover plate (arrow 2) above right drive shaft.
- Press down cover plate (arrow 1) above right drive shaft.
- Remove locking unit (arrow).
- Checking and assembling locking unit:
- Insert spring (1) into housing (2) and, while exerting light pressure, turn spring to left until it locates in base of housing.
- Set bush (3) onto spring so that bent end of spring locates in intended groove.
- Compress spring with bush (3) and turn about 1 turn to left until lug of bush aligns with groove in housing(2).
- Press lug of bush (3) into groove in housing (2) to stop.
- Turn bush (3) to right and release; bush (3) will jump into correct position.
- Lug (arrow A) of bush must always be opposite groove in housing (arrow B).
Other VW procedures
Who makes these pages, and how
TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.
Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.
Seen a figure that does not match your manual? Write to us — we correct it and note when. support@torqfix.com
The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.