Help! - cant get the downpipe out!

[ChevDog1]

I'm hoping that someone can give me some useful advise here. Trying to remove my downpipes to gut the precats. I have the drivers (US) side out, but cannot get the passenger side out past the trans mount (tiptronic). I have dropped the rear of the subframe about 3", and have the car on jackstands about 20" high. From everything I have been able to read online this is the method to use for the tip cars, but it just isn't working for me. I have spent about 5 hours over the last two nights just getting to this point, and I'm a pretty accomplished mechanic. Audi really crammed a lot of stuff into a small space on these cars.

My shop is pretty well equipped, but I don't have a lift, and I don't think that I can get any more height on the car. I may be able to raise the back a few more inches, but my problem is fitting the cat past that damn trans mount. it's just too tight.

Is there anyone on here who has done piggies on a tip car that can give me some pointers?

Thanks!

[jonesclp]

Spent same amount of time and have MT. Got stuck at the sleeves. They are so seized I gave up. I feel for you. Sorry I am of no help but good luck. I will probably by new sleeves and reattempt.


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[alcatranz518]

Did you remove the trans mount? If not, support the trans with a jack and a piece of wood then remove the mount. It still will be tight but with a little twisting, pulling, and swearing/ calling it names it should buy you enough space to come out.

[kevinye77137]

did you unbolt the heat shield from the axle?

[Bonz099]

^ That and the trans mount

[ChevDog1]

I was able to finally get it out last night. Ended up loosening the front subframe mounts so that it could be tilted a bit further, and raised the back of the car a few inches higher off the ground. After all of that work to remove the pipes, it only took about 15 minutes to gut the pre-cats. I gave up and got the lawn mowed after that. I'll start putting it all back together tonight. What a pain!

While I was under the car, I discovered that I have a torn CV boot (which must be recent, as I checked those when I did the brakes a few weeks ago), and my front suspension is pretty much shot. Ordered new axle shafts and a complete set of upper and lower control arms, tierods, etc.

Looks like I will still be working on this thing next week - glad the weather is nice, so I can ride my motorcycle to work!

[scottkollig]

Did you remove the trans mount? If not, support the trans with a jack and a piece of wood then remove the mount. It still will be tight but with a little twisting, pulling, and swearing/ calling it names it should buy you enough space to come out.

I had to call mine all sorts of dirty names to get them to finally slide out.