Removing and installing shift mechanism — VW

Removing and installing shift mechanism on VW: factory workshop procedure. Full factory text, tools and checks.

Workshop procedure for VW — the factory write-up, straight from real workshop data.

factory workshop text

📋 Procedure

ℹ️ Torque figures below come verbatim from workshop data — always cross-check against your vehicle's factory manual before final tightening.

The following description deals with the Audi TT. Therefore differences must be considered, if necessary.

Removing

Unfasten clamp -4- and pull both intake hose and connector -1- off air-mass meter.
If fitted, pull hose -5- off air cleaner housing.
Remove entire air cleaner housing by screwing out bolts -2- and -3-.

=> Motronic Injection and Ignition System; Repair Group 24; Servicing Motronic Injection System
Motronic Injection and Ignition System
Servicing Motronic Injection System

Use open-ended wrench -1- to prise off gear selector cable -A- and gate selector cable -B-.

1 = Commercially available 13 mm open-ended wrench

Screw cable support bracket off gearbox -arrows-.

Unscrew gear stick knob -1-.
Screw out bolts -2-.
Lift off retainer ring -3- and cover -4-.

Lift out switch panel -1- and unplug connectors -2-.
Carefully press retainer tabs -3- to front and lift out storage compartment -4-.

Unfasten front securing nuts for gear stick housing -arrows-.

Then unscrew rear securing bolts for gear stick housing (arrows).
Separate front part of exhaust system downstream of front exhaust pipe and remove catalytic converter with centre section (2nd mechanic required).

=> 4-cyl. Engine (5-valve Turbo), Mechanics; Repair Group 26; Removing and installing exhaust system components
4-cyl. Engine (5-valve Turbo), Mechanics
Removing and installing exhaust system components

Remove propshaft.

=> 5/6-speed Manual Gearbox 02M, Four-wheel Drive/Final Drive; Repair Group 39; Removing and installing propshaft
5/6-speed Manual Gearbox 02M, Four-wheel Drive/Final Drive
Removing and installing propshaft

Remove front heat shield.
Swivel down gear stick housing and take out together with gear selector cables.

Installing

Install in reverse order, paying attention to the following:

Cable locking mechanisms must be replaced if cables are to be re-used.

Apply a small quantity of polycarbamide grease to ball socket of cable locking mechanism -A- and gate selector cable locking mechanism -B-.

Note:

Seals -arrows- outside ball socket must be free from grease.

Align gear stick housing in parallel with body.
Press gear selector cable onto selector lever on gearbox and gate selector cable onto actuating arm -arrows-.

Install propshaft.

Adjust shift mechanism => Page
34-20
.

Tightening torques

Gear stick housing to body · 25 Nm
Cable support bracket to gearbox · 25 Nm
Clamp for exhaust pipe · 40 Nm
Catalytic converter to front exhaust pipe · 25 Nm

Is this your exact engine?

TorqFix answers live for your specific car — tell it the engine code and it serves the matching sequence, torque figures and wiring for that exact variant.

Ask about my car →

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.