SB-10045439-1767

Technical Service Bulletin
42 Rear axle shaft leaks at differential - S4 and S5 with Quattro Sports rear differential (PR – PDU, PDR, or
GH2)
42 12 11 2026049/4 July 5, 2012. Supersedes Technical Service Bulletin Group 42 number 11 – 09 dated
October 25, 2011 for reasons listed below.
Model(s)

Year

VIN Range

Vehicle-Specific Equipment

S4

2010

000001 – 999999

S4

2011

N000001 – N056561

S4

2011

A000001 – A172728

S5

2010

000001 – 999999

S5 Cabriolet

2011

N000001 – N021300

S5

2011

A000001 – A903931

With Sports Differential

Condition
REVISION HISTORY
Revision
4

Date
-

Purpose
Revised header data (Added VIN breaks)
Revised Service (Added repair instructions)

3

10/25/2011

Revised header data

2

10/5/2011

Revised header data (Added VIN breaks)

1

4/15/2011

Original publication

Oil leak in the area of the Quattro sports rear differential (PR-PDU, PDR, or GH2) side flange, or axle shaft
inboard flange.

© 2012 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 1 of 6

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
Technical Background
The following table lists PR codes that identify vehicles with a rear sports differential.
PR

Description

Notes

Audi drive select with rear
sports differential

This PR code must be accompanied with PR GH2
(rear sports differential).

code
PDR

Standalone option
PDU

Rear sport differential

May be accompanied with PR GH2
Comes with Audi drive select control panel even if vehicle
does not have Audi drive select functions
Standalone option

GH2

Rear sport differential

May be accompanied with PR PDU
Comes with Audi drive select control panel even if vehicle
does not have Audi drive select functions

© 2012 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 2 of 6

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin

Insufficient sealant on the protective
cap on the inboard constant velocity
joint at the rear differential on
vehicles with a sports differential.
The oil is from the constant velocity
joint grease. This is a normal
characteristic and does not affect the
function of the driveshaft.

Figure 1.Structure of drive shaft on differential side.
( 1= protective cap) (3 = inner constant velocity joint)

Production Solution
Optimized use of sealer in production from 05/19/2011.

© 2012 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 3 of 6

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
Service
1. Inspect the rear inner CV joints where they connect to the read sports differential:
Oil sweating or residue – do not make any repairs.
Clear oil drips – proceed to step 2.
2. Check the source of the fluid:
Grease used in the drive shaft CV joints is almost odorless. If the fluid does not have any odor,
proceed to step 3.
Differential fluid has a pungent smell. If the fluid has a pungent smell, this TSB does not apply.
3. Per instructions in ELSA Web >>> Chassis >>> Suspension, Wheel, Steering >>> Rear Suspension
>>> Disassembly and Assembly >>> Inner CV Joint, use great care removing the protective cap.
If the cap is undamaged after removal, it can be reused.
If the protective cap is damaged during removal, a new cap must be installed.
4. Be sure the sealing surfaces are clean and dry.
Apply the sealer (Part Number D 454300A2) with a
diameter of 4 - 5 mm on the protective cap.

Figure 2.Protective cap with sealer.

© 2012 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 4 of 6

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
Warranty
Claim Type:

Use applicable claim type. If vehicle is outside any warranty, this
Technical Service Bulletin is informational only.

Service Number:

4229

Damage Code:

0050

Labor Operations:

Remove and install final drive for sports
differential

3988 1903

370 TU

Remove and install final drive for sports
differential – S5 Cabriolet

3988 1903

420 TU

Remove and install drive shaft

4221 1950

70 TU

Remove and install 2 drive shafts

4221 2050

130 TU

Remove and install constant velocity joint
cap

4224 1999

10 TU

Remove and install 2 constant velocity joint 4224 2099
caps

20 TU

Diagnostic Time:

GFF – Checking and clearing fault codes
included in existing labor operations

No allowance 0 TU

Road test prior to service procedure

No allowance 0 TU

Road test after service procedure

0121 0004

10 TU

Technical diagnosis at dealer’s discretion
(Refer to Section 2.2.1.2 and Audi Warranty Online for DADP
allowance details)
Claim Comment:

As per TSB #2026049/4

All warranty claims submitted for payment must be in accordance with the Audi Warranty Policies and Procedures
Manual. Claims are subject to review or audit by Audi Warranty.

© 2012 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 5 of 6

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.

Technical Service Bulletin
Required Parts and Tools
Part Number

Part Description

Quantity

D 454300A2

Sealer

1

4F0501269

Protective Cap

1 or 2

Additional Information
All parts and service references provided in this TSB are subject to change and/or removal. Always check with
your Parts Department and service manuals for the latest information.

© 2012 Audi of America, Inc.

Page 6 of 6

All rights reserved. Information contained in this document is based on the latest information available at the time of printing and is subject to the copyright and other intellectual property rights of
Audi of America, Inc., its affiliated companies and its licensors. All rights are reserved to make changes at any time without notice. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, nor may these materials be modified or reposted to other sites, without the prior
expressed written permission of the publisher.