What is the proper procedure for changing the lubricant in a vehicle's rear differential on Volkswagen Passat?

This process must be done after the car has been driven so the lubricant can be heated and it would come out of the differential more readily. Start with lifting the vehicle and placing it well in jackstands, after which a drain pan and rags, newspapers, and wrenches should be placed underneath. Take out the drain plug and empty the lubricant in the pan. The drain plug should be reattached after being emptied, then tightened to required torque. The next step will be to take out the check/fill plug and fill the rear differential housing with the recommended lubricant with a hand pump, syringe or squeeze bottle inside the fill plug hole. Install the check/ fill plug after reaching the right level and screw it down to the required torque.

How to safely remove and install the differential assembly on Volkswagen Passat?

Lift the bumper of the car and place it safely on jackstands, preferably by blocking the front wheels. In the case of a Passat, the plate under the driveaxles will have to be removed, and in the case of an A4, the exhaust system under the rear must be removed. Unfit the bolts that hold the inner CV joints to the drive flanges and take away the plates which hold the bolts, being careful not to drop the driveaxles. Unbolt the driveshaft at the pinion of the differential and hold it in place with wire or rope by doing not letting it hang down to avoid U-joint damage. In an A4, the heat shield above the driveshaft must be taken off. Prop the differential with a jack, ideally a transaxle jack with safety chains or a floor jack with extreme care to avoid falling over. Unbolt the front and rear mounting brackets of the differential assembly and in the case of the A4, unbolt the front crossmember of the torque tube section of the differential housing as well as the body. Carefully with the help, the differential assembly may be lowered and it can be taken out under the vehicle. The reverse of removal is installation whereby all fasteners are tightened to the required torque values and the level of lubricant in the rear differential is checked adding more when necessary to bring the level to the required level.

Genuine Volkswagen Passat Differential

Front Differential

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Volkswagen Passat Axle Housing Part Number: 01R-525-053-G
$832.65 MSRP: $1050.00
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Product Specifications
- Other Name: Housing
- Replaces: 01R-525-053-E
- Warranty: This genuine part is guaranteed by Volkswagen's factory warranty.
Fits the following Vehicles:
- 1999-2002 Volkswagen Passat | 4 Motion, GLS, GLS 4 Motion, GLX, GLX 4 Motion, W8 | 4 Cyl 1.8 L GAS, 6 Cyl 2.8 L GAS, 8 Cyl 4.0 L GAS
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Volkswagen Passat Differential Carrier Part Number: 01R-525-053-M
$1385.92 MSRP: $1622.86
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Product Specifications
- Other Name: Housing
- Warranty: This genuine part is guaranteed by Volkswagen's factory warranty.
Fits the following Vehicles:
- 2003-2005 Volkswagen Passat | GL, GL TDI, GLS, GLS 4 Motion, GLS TDI, GLX, GLX 4 Motion, W8 | 4 Cyl 1.8 L GAS, 4 Cyl 2.0 L DIESEL, 6 Cyl 2.8 L GAS, 8 Cyl 4.0 L GAS
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Volkswagen Passat Carrier Assembly Part Number: 01R-500-043-D
$2818.20 MSRP: $3300.00
You Save: $481.80 (15%)
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Product Specifications
- Other Name: Differential; Carrier Assembly
- Warranty: This genuine part is guaranteed by Volkswagen's factory warranty.
Fits the following Vehicles:
- 1999-2005 Volkswagen Passat | 4 Motion, GL, GLS, GLS 4 Motion, GLX, GLX 4 Motion | 4 Cyl 1.8 L GAS, 6 Cyl 2.8 L GAS
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Volkswagen Passat Carrier Assembly Part Number: 01R-500-044-F
$3210.71 MSRP: $3759.61
You Save: $548.90 (15%)
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Product Specifications
- Other Name: Differential; Carrier Assembly
- Warranty: This genuine part is guaranteed by Volkswagen's factory warranty.
Fits the following Vehicles:
- 2002-2004 Volkswagen Passat | W8 | 8 Cyl 4.0 L GAS
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Volkswagen Passat Carrier Assembly Part Number: 01R-500-045-F
$3480.90 MSRP: $4076.00
You Save: $595.10 (15%)
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Product Specifications
- Other Name: Differential; Carrier Assembly
- Warranty: This genuine part is guaranteed by Volkswagen's factory warranty.
Fits the following Vehicles:
- 2003-2004 Volkswagen Passat | W8 | 8 Cyl 4.0 L GAS
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Volkswagen Passat Differential Assembly Part Number: 01Z-525-010-D
$4794.60 MSRP: $5614.29
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Product Specifications
- Other Name: Final Drive
- Warranty: This genuine part is guaranteed by Volkswagen's factory warranty.
Fits the following Vehicles:
- 2006-2008 Volkswagen Passat | 2.0T, 3.6, Komfort, Lux, Turbo, Value Edition, VR6, Wolfsburg Edition | 4 Cyl 2.0 L GAS, 6 Cyl 3.6 L GAS
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Volkswagen Passat Case Part Number: 016-409-121-D
$364.54 MSRP: $498.00
You Save: $133.46 (27%)
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Product Specifications
- Other Name: Housing
- Warranty: This genuine part is guaranteed by Volkswagen's factory warranty.
Fits the following Vehicles:
- 1999-2001 Volkswagen Passat | 4 Motion, GLS, GLS 4 Motion, GLX, GLX 4 Motion | 4 Cyl 1.8 L GAS, 6 Cyl 2.8 L GAS
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Volkswagen Passat Case Part Number: 01R-525-121-C
$484.94 MSRP: $662.49
You Save: $177.55 (27%)
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Product Specifications
- Other Name: Housing; Differential Case
- Replaces: 01R-525-121-A
- Warranty: This genuine part is guaranteed by Volkswagen's factory warranty.
Fits the following Vehicles:
- 2002-2005 Volkswagen Passat | GL, GL TDI, GLS, GLS 4 Motion, GLS TDI, GLX, GLX 4 Motion, W8 | 4 Cyl 1.8 L GAS, 4 Cyl 2.0 L DIESEL, 6 Cyl 2.8 L GAS, 8 Cyl 4.0 L GAS
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Volkswagen Passat Carrier Assembly Part Number: 01R-500-043-F
$2945.45 MSRP: $3449.00
You Save: $503.55 (15%)
Ships in 1-2 Business Days
ADD TO CART
Product Specifications
- Other Name: Differential
- Warranty: This genuine part is guaranteed by Volkswagen's factory warranty.
Fits the following Vehicles:
- 2004-2005 Volkswagen Passat | GL, GLS, GLS 4 Motion | 4 Cyl 1.8 L GAS
View related parts
Volkswagen Passat Carrier Assembly Part Number: 01R-500-045-G
$3480.90 MSRP: $4076.00
You Save: $595.10 (15%)
Ships in 1-2 Business Days
ADD TO CART
Product Specifications
- Other Name: Differential
- Warranty: This genuine part is guaranteed by Volkswagen's factory warranty.
Fits the following Vehicles:
- 2004 Volkswagen Passat | W8 | 8 Cyl 4.0 L GAS

Volkswagen Passat Differential

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Volkswagen Passat Differential Parts and Q&A

Carrier Assembly
01R-500-043-D
Q: What is the proper procedure for changing the lubricant in a vehicle's rear differential on Volkswagen Passat?
A:
This process must be done after the car has been driven so the lubricant can be heated and it would come out of the differential more readily. Start with lifting the vehicle and placing it well in jackstands, after which a drain pan and rags, newspapers, and wrenches should be placed underneath. Take out the drain plug and empty the lubricant in the pan. The drain plug should be reattached after being emptied, then tightened to required torque. The next step will be to take out the check/fill plug and fill the rear differential housing with the recommended lubricant with a hand pump, syringe or squeeze bottle inside the fill plug hole. Install the check/ fill plug after reaching the right level and screw it down to the required torque.
Carrier Assembly
01R-500-044-F
Q: How to safely remove and install the differential assembly on Volkswagen Passat?
A:
Lift the bumper of the car and place it safely on jackstands, preferably by blocking the front wheels. In the case of a Passat, the plate under the driveaxles will have to be removed, and in the case of an A4, the exhaust system under the rear must be removed. Unfit the bolts that hold the inner CV joints to the drive flanges and take away the plates which hold the bolts, being careful not to drop the driveaxles. Unbolt the Driveshaft at the pinion of the differential and hold it in place with wire or rope by doing not letting it hang down to avoid U-joint damage. In an A4, the heat shield above the driveshaft must be taken off. Prop the differential with a jack, ideally a transaxle jack with safety chains or a floor jack with extreme care to avoid falling over. Unbolt the front and rear mounting brackets of the differential assembly and in the case of the A4, unbolt the front crossmember of the torque tube section of the differential housing as well as the body. Carefully with the help, the differential assembly may be lowered and it can be taken out under the vehicle. The reverse of removal is installation whereby all fasteners are tightened to the required torque values and the level of lubricant in the rear differential is checked adding more when necessary to bring the level to the required level.