Writeup on the subrame drop
Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Writeup on the subrame drop
I'm getting ready to change my username to H8U-Chilton.
I'm trying to get the oil pan out on my 97 A4. The Bentley manual has a very nice illustration of the oil pan, but lacks any information on removing it.
My Chiltons manual, OTOH, has detailed information on removing it, but it unfortunately appears to be, um, wrong. After removing and detaching a bunch of stuff, it told me to attach a chain hoist to the engine, lift it off the subframe, and remove the pan. Using this method, I managed to get all but two of the oil pan retaining bolts out. Not good enough, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to get a couple of them back in with the subframe in the way.
So, I'm stuck.
I'm guessing that the next step is to drop the subframe, but I don't know how to do this. Perhaps my search foo is poor, but I don't see a writeup anywhere. Does one exist?
thanks!
I'm trying to get the oil pan out on my 97 A4. The Bentley manual has a very nice illustration of the oil pan, but lacks any information on removing it.
My Chiltons manual, OTOH, has detailed information on removing it, but it unfortunately appears to be, um, wrong. After removing and detaching a bunch of stuff, it told me to attach a chain hoist to the engine, lift it off the subframe, and remove the pan. Using this method, I managed to get all but two of the oil pan retaining bolts out. Not good enough, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to get a couple of them back in with the subframe in the way.
So, I'm stuck.
I'm guessing that the next step is to drop the subframe, but I don't know how to do this. Perhaps my search foo is poor, but I don't see a writeup anywhere. Does one exist?
thanks!
Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Re: Writeup on the subrame drop
Well, that was pretty darn simple.
The bracket to which the sway bar attaches has three bolts that attach it to the chassis. To drop the subframe, all you do is support the subframe with a jack, then remove the bolts. AllData indicates that you're supposed to remove the front two on each bracket first, and then the rear ones.
Once all six bolts are out, lower the jack. That will drop the subframe. You might need to nudge it with a pry bar, but it shouldn't take much. Once it's down all the way, you can remove the jack.
If you don't detach the subframe's rear mounting points, dropping it will not affect your alignment.
The wire for the starter motor runs through a plastic bracket. Before dropping the subframe, cut the zip ties holding it in and move it to one side.
Getting the subframe out of the way (with the engine loose and hoisted up a few inches) gave me access to all of the oil pan bolts. I managed to get all of them out except one nut on the driver's side at the rear of the pan. I think that I can get that one off with a stubby wrench, but I don't have a 16mm one. So, I need to wait a few days for one to arrive.
The bracket to which the sway bar attaches has three bolts that attach it to the chassis. To drop the subframe, all you do is support the subframe with a jack, then remove the bolts. AllData indicates that you're supposed to remove the front two on each bracket first, and then the rear ones.
Once all six bolts are out, lower the jack. That will drop the subframe. You might need to nudge it with a pry bar, but it shouldn't take much. Once it's down all the way, you can remove the jack.
If you don't detach the subframe's rear mounting points, dropping it will not affect your alignment.
The wire for the starter motor runs through a plastic bracket. Before dropping the subframe, cut the zip ties holding it in and move it to one side.
Getting the subframe out of the way (with the engine loose and hoisted up a few inches) gave me access to all of the oil pan bolts. I managed to get all of them out except one nut on the driver's side at the rear of the pan. I think that I can get that one off with a stubby wrench, but I don't have a 16mm one. So, I need to wait a few days for one to arrive.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
pentosinjunky
12v V6 Discussion
10
Aug 2, 2006 08:33 AM
