"...remove bolts securing propeller shaft..."

[jagwit]

S3 parts manual shows bolt heads at gearbox end facing the front of the car. No bolts are shown for the diff end.

[angelw]

Philip Wrote:

S3 parts manual shows bolt heads at gearbox end facing the front of the car. No bolts are shown for the diff end.

Hello Phillip,
In the S3 Workshop Manual, it actually makes reference to replacing the bolts in the Gearbox Companion Flange before tapping it home on the spline. No such reference is made for the Differential Companion Flange, nor for the Gearbox Companion Flange for S1 and S2 cars. In these cases it merely states to undo the nuts and recover the bolts during dismantling.

I note that Nigel's transmission is an Automatic. In this case there is no issue with replacing damaged bolts without removing the Transmission Companion Flange, irrespective of direction the head of the bolts face.

Regards,

Bill

[Bob.]

S3 parts manual confirms that Bill.



Important to realign the splines of the two parts exactly as they were originally on reassembly, otherwise propshaft likely be out of balance.

[Rustyred]

generally the head of the bolt will be keyed by the rim on the flange allowing the lock-nut to do its job properly, so it doesn't come loose in service.