2.5tdi (BDH) rear crank seal

[Crasher]

What is the VIN? Replacement is engine or box out.

[billybob]

WAUZZZ8E75A089355 (quattro)

My workshop is the roadside on axle stands. It would have to be box out as opposed to engine out (not that I fancy it much but it's a lovely drive so be nice to keep it going). From what I've gathered it's subframe off, gearbox out, clutch off. It's been wanting a new sump gasket for a while so could at least sort that too but getting a bit old for doing this job on my back. I heard the box is circa 120kg! Looking to keep costs down so if I did it I'd like to refit the existing clutch - is that easily do-able? I did a 1998 Passat 1.8t clutch on my old house driveway a couple of decades ago but can't remember much about it now! (except that the box weighed nothing like 120kg and there was a lot more room than with the 2.5, and even that was a bit of a faff as a 1 man job).

[Crasher]

I recently put the box back in an S2 we are restoring, even on a two post lift using a heavy duty gearbox jack, it took three of us to get it back in even with the engine out, on your own, on your back, getting old like me (61), I would need an ambulance. The upper sump gasket is now D 176 404 A2 sealant and I would do this engine out, on a stand, so you can invert the engine. The rear sealant flange 059 103 171 and gasket 059 103 181 are now obsolete genuine (except from Tradition) but easily available aftermarket as a flange or just seal

[billybob]

Thanks for the info Crasher. I appreciate it and it does make me think as I don't really want to end up with a permanent feature out front of a car on stands with a box on the floor! If I was going to have a go I imagined maybe concocting some kind of stabilisers kind of contraption to stick on a trolley jack and *just* lower the box and roll it back out of the way a bit . Out of interest, what was so problematic about your gearbox refit? Obviously it's heavy and a bit unwieldly but was there an issue with accessing bolts, or just trying to line things up, or ??

From my understanding so far the work involved would be very similar to the work needed to change the clutch (with the addition of putting the new seal on when the clutch was off)

[billybob]

On a bit of a tangent, whilst my A4 B6 is getting a bit tired (235K) it's a lovely drive still. 2.5 tdi avant quattro sport. BDH engine and 6 speed box seem pretty solid and slightly lower 1BE suspension so handles quite nicely. I was having a look at what other Audi quattros are out there in case I have to move on soon and I would really like to stay with a diesel V6 manual quattro (avant) but it's as if there is no such thing. Anything quattro seems to be an auto. Are there really no manual quattros? (Ideally A6 B7 / B8)

This makes me more tempted to try and keep mine going a while longer and whilst out working last night I started wondering how much work is involved in taking the engine out in order to do the rear crank seal instead of looking at the gearbox out route. I quite like the idea of being upright working on it rather than on my back but pulling this engine out is an unknown for me whereas I've had a gearbox off on a previous car at least! I've had the front off the car quite a few times and last year did the waterpump and timing belts etc.

Once the front is off, assuming I got hold of an engine crane, how much further work is involved to get to the point of actually pulling the engine out?