Differential - adjust — VW
Differential - adjust on VW: 11 steps, 2 torque figures. What to remove, what to tighten and to how many Nm, what to check after.
Workshop procedure for VW — the exact step sequence and torque figures, straight from real workshop data.
🧭 Before you start
Fits: platform codes 6A1, 6A5
- Special tools named: dial gauge
Don't miss
- The inside and outside tracks of the tapered bearings form an assembly (pairs) and should not be inverted.
🔩 Torque settings
Values can differ between engine variants — check the code stamped on your block.
| Torque | Fastener / step |
|---|---|
| 150 Nm (111 lb-ft) | Fasten the body of the bearing by tightening it with the Pin wrench3155 up high |
| 50 Nm (37 lb-ft) | Tighten the adjustment ring »on the other side« at |
ℹ️ Always cross-check the exact figure against your vehicle's factory manual before final tightening — a wrong torque can damage the engine. These values are extracted from workshop data and may not cover every variant or revision.
📋 Procedure
- Installing the outer tapered bearing race (pinion side) on the gearbox housing [Note: The inside and outside tracks of the tapered bearings form an assembly (pairs) and should not be inverted.]
- Install the outer bearing race (opposite side of pinion) on the clutch housing without adjustment shim.
- Support the gearbox housing with the Fitter3345.
- Install the differential on the clutch housing.
- Install the gearbox housing and tighten the 5 screws to the corresponding tightening torque
- Install the measuring device and the dial gauge by using an extender (A) of approx. 1.18 in.
- Reset the dial gauge to zero with 1-mm pre-tension.
- Move the differential upwards and downwards, read the clearance on the dial gauge and write down (in the example: 1.50 mm).
- Remove the clutch housing and the outer tapered bearing race (A).
- Install the adjustment shim with the corresponding thickness (in the example, 1.85 mm) and reinstall the outer bearing race in the clutch housing
- Install the gearbox housing and tighten screws to the corresponding tightening torque .
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.